Myanmar president calls on workers to strive for national development

MMyanmar President U Htin Kyaw on Sunday called on workers in the country to strive for ensuring national development through cooperation among the government, employees and employers based on social justice.

In his message on the occasion of the International Workers' Day, U Htin Kyaw pledged that he would put all energy into the task of ensuring social protection and safety of all people including workers.

Currently, laws are being promulgated to create peaceful working environment with good relations among the tripartite force of the government, employees and employers to guarantee legal rights of workers, he said.

The president stressed the importance of eliminating forced labor. Ward and village-tract administrative law was amended in conformity with Forced Labor Convention 29 of the international Labor Organization (ILO) and a work plan has already been laid down. Myanmar Program on the Elimination of Child Labor is also being launched.

With the establishment of ASEAN Community on Dec. 31. 2015, which facilitates workers' migration from one country to another, there is an increasing need for skilled labor in various fields in Myanmar, U Htin Kyaw said.

The president said his government would work toward drafting a new constitution that will lead to national reconciliation, internal peace and democratic federal union as well as improvement of people's living standard.

Myanmar saw 1,917 labor organizations at basic level, 105 at township level and 14 at regional or state level, seven labor federations and one labor confederation.

Source: XINHUA