Ministry urged to set national minimum wage

“We are now doing activities like fact-finding and discussing minimum wage levels, including subsidiary, allowances, overtime fees, and working hours. This stage of the process will end on 28 of this month. Based on information collected before that day, we will submit a recommendation to the ministry to set up a countrywide minimum wage. For the ministry to set up a minimum wage equally for the entire nation, the survey should be conducted with considerations for variances regional development,” said Win Zaw, a member from the CTUM.    

He continued: “Our union agrees that setting up a minimum wage should be based on eight working hours per day, not including subsidiary, allowances and overtime fees.”

“We don’t want to fix the amount for minimum wages. But one person’ earning should be enough to support at least three family members in per household. Supposedly, daily expenditure for a family with three members is Ks 5000; the daily minimum wage should cover that cost,” Win Zaw added.

The ministry is now conducting surveys in 108 townships to fix and balance the minimum wages throughout the country during this month and next month.  

The ministry will set up a minimum wage based on the survey in the middle of this year.