10 July

Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe participated in the videoconference of the Constituents’ Day event, dubbed, ‘ILO Virtual Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work’ yesterday at 4:30 pm from Nay Pyi Taw. 

At the event, the Union Minister delivered a speech in a pre-recorded video.

ILO Director-General Guy Ryder, labour ministers, as well as leaders of workers and employers from ILO member countries, participated in the videoconference, which emphasized how to effectively respond Covid-19’s impact on jobs. 

At the event, through the pre-recorded video, the Union Minister U Thein Swe said that the Global Summit will help maintain the momentum of the World of Work, and give important guidelines. As the “UN Policy Brief: The World of Work and COVID-19” says, the government must look after health of workers and, at the same time we carefully must take measures to sustain the momentum of businesses. Regarding how Myanmar responds to the COVID-19 crisis, the Myanmar government, together with all the stakeholders, take enormous efforts based on “a whole of nation approach” for prevention, containment and treatment for COVID-19. 

He added the government has put exert efforts in line with the ILO’s policy framework to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, with forming a committee to remedy the economic impacts caused by COVID-19, and raising funds for three main types of businesses that are adversely affected by COVID-19.

Interest rates, income taxes and trade taxes were reduced, while providing assistance to both employers and employees and arranging relief flights to bring Myanmar migrant workers back home. 

Myanmar officials welcomed Myanmar migrant workers at border crossings, and transported them to quarantine centres in respective areas.

In cooperation with ILO, Myanmar organized relevant tripartite meetings since before the first COVID-19 case of Myanmar was confirmed.

The Union Minister U Thein Swe added that Myanmar will create more jobs in agricultural sector, and nurture skilled workers in various sectors.

The Union Minister concluded his speech by saying that COVID-19 has killed many people and adversely affected the country’s economy as well as social lives, but people across the world believed to overcome the COVID-19 crisis by cooperating with each other in order to achieve better social lives.

MNA (Translated by Maung Maung Swe)