By Ma Ma - Dec 18, 2024
Factories and workplaces continue to show weak enforcement of workplace safety measures, with minor injuries frequently occurring. However, more than 2,000 Occupational Safety and Health Committees (OSH Committees) have been formed, with Yangon Region hosting the majority of them, according to U Win Shein, Deputy Minister of Labour.
Currently, domestic employers lack systematic arrangements to ensure workplace safety. Basic necessities such as proper ventilation in factories, clean drinking water, hygienic toilets, and a health-friendly work environment are often absent. Additionally, facilities like factory buildings are not proportionate to the number of workers, and there is a shortage of sufficient waste bins for proper disposal, demonstrating a lack of organized effort in this area.
“To be honest, we don’t really know much about workplace safety. The toilets smell bad, and they’re not clean. Drinking water is not convenient to access. Inside the workplace, it’s hot and uncomfortable. But nobody sees these as real problems. No one has ever talked about implementing workplace safety measures either,” said one factory worker.
According to the 2019 Occupational Safety and Health Law, factories and workplaces with more than 50 workers are required to establish Occupational Safety and Health Committees. To date, over 2,100 factories and workplaces have formed such committees, with most being established in Yangon Region, as the Deputy Minister stated on December 16.
Furthermore, since 2016, five factories in Myanmar have won the ASEAN-OSHNET Excellence Award for outstanding performance in workplace safety and health, while another five have received the ASEAN-OSHNET Best Practices Award for their exemplary safety and health practices. A total of 10 factories have been recognized with these awards, according to a statement from the Ministry of Labour.
“Even on regular holidays, workers are called in for overtime. There’s barely any time to rest. So, I don’t think workplace safety measures are going to be prioritized anytime soon. However, if the ministry could enforce small measures that don’t cost much—such as basic cleanliness or adequate facilities—it would have more impact than just talking about the number of committees,” said a former member of a workers' union.
Since the military takeover, domestic employers have been complying with labor laws only during inspection periods. The Ministry of Labour inspections are often superficial and conducted only after prior notice, rather than through unannounced and thorough checks.
