The impact of COVID-19 in Myanmar: a study of workers laid-off in the garment sector

Myanmar garment sector, a major contributor to jobs and livelihoods for the country, has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Content also available in: Myanmar

This study, conducted with funding support from Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), provides insights into the consequences of COVID-19 for garment workers’ job security and particular vulnerabilities of laid-off workers who used severance payments for food, remittances, and accommodation. It illustrates the role and relevance of short-term cash transfers and puts into sharp focus the critical role of long- term social security measures, such as establishing a comprehensive unemployment insurance scheme, to manage future economic shocks that threaten livelihoods everywhere.