The government of Myanmar announced last week it would this month begin to conduct a survey on household living costs in order to determine a nationally set minimum wage in a move which has been delayed for over year, The Irrawaddy reported.
The announcement was made after the Union Parliament voted on Thursday to approve a tripling of law maker salaries. The government had planned since early last year to conduct the survey but the move had been delayed.
Aung Htay Win, a director from the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security said, the survey to collect data would start on Jan 26 in all states and divisions including the capital city of Naypyidaw. He expected the survey to be completed in two weeks.
The survey will be conducted across more than 22,000 households in 108 townships, based on a representative sample of household size, socioeconomic level, occupation, earnings and expenses.
Aung Lin, chairperson of the Myanmar Trade Union Federation (MTUF), said that the daily minimum wage would be considered based on submissions from unions and employer groups, in addition to the survey results.
At present, Aung Lin said, workers in garment sectors and unskilled laborers for private companies were only earning 50,000-100,000 kyats (US$49-98) per month, well below what was needed to meet rising living costs.