New law a major step for workplace safety and health in Myanmar

The enactment of the new Occupational Safety and Health Law is a major step towards safer and healthier workplaces in Myanmar. The new law will play a pivotal role in preventing occupational injuries, diseases and deaths, said the ILO Liaison Officer in Yangon.

Press release | 19 March 2019
Footing work at a construction site
Yangon (ILO News) - The enactment of the new Occupational Safety and Health Law is a major step towards safer and healthier workplaces in Myanmar. The new law will play a pivotal role in preventing occupational injuries, diseases and deaths, said the ILO Liaison Officer in Yangon.

“Until now, occupational safety and health protection has been limited to just a few sectors,” said Rory Mungoven, ILO Liaison Officer.  “The new law has significantly broadened the scope of coverage and will provide a framework for coordinated action across different sectors.”

The law provides for the establishment of a new tripartite National OSH Council and will require employers to put in place OSH committees at workplace level to steer the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases. This will contribute to strengthen national and enterprise level social dialogue on OSH and ultimately in improving the competitiveness of Myanmar’s enterprises in ASEAN countries and the world.

“OSH compliance not only protects workers, but increases economic efficiency and productivity as a whole,” Mungoven said.  “It is also important for attracting investments and integrating businesses into global supply chains.”

The implementation of the law will further contribute to the efforts and commitments of the country to achieve the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan and SDG target 8.8 on Protection of the labour rights and promotion safe and secure working environments for all workers.

The new law has been several years in development and is the product of extensive discussions in Parliament and tripartite consultations with Workers’ and Employers’ Organisations.

“This demonstrates the benefits that tripartite social dialogue can bring to law-making in Myanmar,” Mungoven said.  “Involving those in the front line can ensure the law has buy-in and can be more effectively applied.” 

The ILO highlighted there will be many challenges in implementing a new national OSH system.  To ensure its effective implementation, new decrees and regulations will need to be drafted, data gathering systems be put in place, and education and awareness raising programs expanded.  ILO hopes that this  can also pave the way for the ratification of ILO’s Occupational safety and Health Convection 1981 No.155 and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187).

The ILO looks forward to support tripartite constituents in implementing this new law as a major contribution towards decent work and sustainable development within the framework of the recently signed Decent Work Country Program, 2018-2021.

ILO Myanmar is currently implementing a portfolio of OSH-related projects, including Vision Zero Fund targeting the agriculture and garment sectors, Safe Youth @ Work promoting OSH among young workers, and activities under the ILO-Japan and ILO Korea programmes.

For more information:

Mr Rory Mungoven, ILO Liaison Officer in Myanmar - mungoven@ilo.org