Myanmar engineers too weak to exploit AEC
Play
Yangon - Engineers in Myanmar are not in a position to exploit the free movement of labour under the Asean Economic Community (AEC) because a few of them hold globally-recognised certificates, said Aung Myint, vice-chairperson of Myanmar Engineering Counc
“Myanmar Engineering Council was only founded in November 2013. Fewer than 300 engineers have been trained last year. Out of them, only 136 can work elsewhere in Asean. Malaysia produces about 1,000. Our engineers will need certificates recognised outside Myanmar. Certification allows people to coordinate with experts from other counties,” Aung Myint told a press conference at the Asean People’s Award.
When the AEC emerged this month, Myanmar would lag with the mutual flow of investment, commodities, services and skilled workers, said observers.
“The main aim of the AEC is to create a single market and a competitive region but there are many unfinished things,” said Tin Tin Htwe, senior adviser at Parami Energy Group of Companies.
Aung Myint said: “When the AEC is carried out, the flow of workers might open up. There are millions of Myanmar workers in Thailand and Singapore as well as in Western Asia. But are they working in jobs which match their training? Engineers from Myanmar do not work in engineering jobs in Singapore. They work as just ordinary workers. We need mutual recognition agreements for engineers, doctors and accountants in Asean."
The AEC talk was held by Parami Energy and its CEO, Pyae Wa Htun, won the Asean People’s Award at the Asean Summit held in Malaysia in November.
