According to UN estimates, Myanmar’s workforce has shrunk by 1.1 million men and women from the period before Covid-19 and the coup, two and a half years after the global pandemic and 18 months after the military takeover on 1 February 2021′ International Labour Organization (ILO).
The ILO released these new estimates, assessing the impact of the pandemic and the coup that toppled Myanmar’s democratically elected government.
The quality of work has also deteriorated, with workers in key sectors such as the garment industry facing more casual work, irregular hours and lower wages, the ILO said. Overall, women are also more susceptible than men.
Productivity drops
Labour productivity also fell in the first half of 2022, contracting 2% after contracting 8% the previous year, according to the UN agency.
Still, the employment figures are an improvement from the latest ILO estimates in January, when the labor agency found the country lost 1.6 million jobs in all of 2021.
World Bank data show that in 2020, Myanmar’s total labor force was just over 23 million.
Dilemma: ILO
“Eighteen months after the military takeover, the employment situation in Myanmar is still very difficult,” said Li Donglin, the ILO’s liaison officer in Myanmar.
“While there are limited signs of job growth, the continued deterioration in labour conditions and the decline in job quality is deeply worrying.”
return to small growth
However, the World Bank forecast on July 21 that the Southeast Asian nation’s economy will grow 3% this year after shrinking 18% in 2021, noting that economic activity has picked up in some regions over the past 12 months despite severe restrictions. , “demonstrates the adaptability of Myanmar businesses.”
But the outlook remains weak and faces significant risks.
“Myanmar experienced one of the worst economic contractions in the world last year, and we forecast limited growth this year to leave its economic recovery well behind other countries,” said Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Myanmar.
According to UN estimates, Myanmar’s workforce has shrunk by 1.1 million men and women from the period before Covid-19 and the coup, two and a half years after the global pandemic and 18 months after the military takeover on 1 February 2021′ International Labour Organization (ILO). The ILO released these new estimates, assessing the impact of the pandemic and the coup that toppled Myanmar’s democratically elected government. The quality of work has also deteriorated, with workers in key sectors such as the garment industry facing more casual work, irregular hours and lower wages, the ILO said. Women are also more affected…
According to UN estimates, Myanmar’s workforce has shrunk by 1.1 million men and women from the period before Covid-19 and the coup, two and a half years after the global pandemic and 18 months after the military takeover on 1 February 2021′ International Labour Organization (ILO).
The ILO released these new estimates, assessing the impact of the pandemic and the coup that toppled Myanmar’s democratically elected government.
The quality of work has also deteriorated, with workers in key sectors such as the garment industry facing more casual work, irregular hours and lower wages, the ILO said. Overall, women are also more susceptible than men.
Productivity drops
Labour productivity also fell in the first half of 2022, contracting 2% after contracting 8% the previous year, according to the UN agency.
Still, the employment figures are an improvement from the latest ILO estimates in January, when the labor agency found the country lost 1.6 million jobs in all of 2021.
World Bank data show that in 2020, Myanmar’s total labor force was just over 23 million.
Dilemma: ILO
“Eighteen months after the military takeover, the employment situation in Myanmar is still very difficult,” said Li Donglin, the ILO’s liaison officer in Myanmar.
“While there are limited signs of job growth, the continued deterioration in labour conditions and the decline in job quality is deeply worrying.”
return to small growth
However, the World Bank forecast on July 21 that the Southeast Asian nation’s economy will grow 3% this year after shrinking 18% in 2021, noting that economic activity has picked up in some regions over the past 12 months despite severe restrictions. , “demonstrates the adaptability of Myanmar businesses.”
But the outlook remains weak and faces significant risks.
“Myanmar experienced one of the worst economic contractions in the world last year, and we forecast limited growth this year to leave its economic recovery well behind other countries,” said Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Myanmar.
