01/05/2018
Eight Interesting Topics from Myanmar Labor Law
1. Minimum Wage
Minimum wage per day is set at 4800kyat. This daily rate is based on 8hr day and does not include overtime, bonuses, incentives or allowances.
2. Working Hours
Working hours are capped at 44hrs per week. Working hours must be kept at 5hrs per stretch and accompanied by 30mins break after every stretch. Intervals of rest may not exceed a total stretch of 10 working hours.
3. Overtime work
Overtime work must not exceed 16hrs per week for workers in shops and establishments. Workers in factories, overtime may not exceed 20hrs per week. Workers who work more than the capped 44hrs per week must be paid twice the ordinary wage for all the overtime hours.
4. Public Holidays
Workers who are required to work on public holidays are paid at double the original overtime pay, plus cost of living allowance.
5. Medical, Maternity/Paternity Leaves
Workers who have worked for over 6 months in a company and who provide medical certificate may take up to 30days of paid medical leaves per year. Workers with less than six months of service may take unpaid medical leaves of the same amount.
Pregnant mothers can take up to 6 weeks of prenatal and 8 weeks of paid postnatal leave and fathers can take up to 15days of paid paternity leaves.
6. Child Labor
No one under 14 year of age is allowed to be employed. Workers who are younger than 18yr old must have an accompanying certificate of fitness for work by a certified medical practitioner while working.
7. Termination of Employment
An employment contract must include provisions on resigning and termination of services as well as termination of agreement. If an employee desires to resign from the job, he or she shall inform the employer 30 days in advance with sound reason. If an employer desires to terminate the employment, he or she shall inform the employer 30 days in advance with sound reason. If an agreement is made between an employer and a worker on the termination of their employment, they shall inform the relevant employment and labor exchange office 30 days in advance.
8. Casual/Annual Leave
Workers are given six days of paid casual leave per year. Workers may use up to three days of casual leave at one time, but cannot combine casual leave with other kinds of leave (such as earned annual leave). Unused casual leave is lost at the end of the year.
All workers earn 10 days of paid leave per year after their first 12 continuous months of work (continuous work includes interruptions of up to 90 days for illness, injury, and authorized absences; or, by voluntary suspension of work, lock-outs, or legal strikes totaling up to 30 days). Workers under the age of 15 years are entitled to 14 days of consecutive earned annual leave.