By Min Ni Kyaw - Jan 18, 2024

"Eliminating child labor in such this country is difficult. Child labor will still exist until the country is developed. So, regarding the child labor we have to consider about the political stability first."

- Solidarity of Trade Unions Myanmar (STUM)

According to the 2015 census, there are over 1.1 million child laborers in Myanmar. According to some surveys more than 12 percent are working in the manufacturing sector.

At present, factories in Yangon are hiring underage child laborers to work as day laborers and pay lesser than the minimum wage of 4,800 kyats as stipulated in the law and exploiting their labor by forcing to work more than normal working hours without paying overtime wages.  Regarding these situations, damages and reforming conditions Myanmar Labour News asked an official of the Solidarity of Trade Unions Myanmar, STUM.

Question. How have you seen the situation of child labor during the last year?

Although it is defined as “Job which may have a non-positive impact upon the child’s physical, psychological and social development, job which may interferes the education, job that hinder educational access, job that compel early departure from school and children who work long hours of intensive work while going to school,” do you see the current situations have improvements?

Answer. I must answer “No” for this question. Not at all.

Question. Can we assume that there are many child laborers among the day laborers in the factories currently? Let us know how these workers are suffering.

Answer. Yes. There are many child laborers among the day laborers. Even though they themselves are child laborers, they did not apply as child laborers. Many are not appointed unless they are 18 years old. So that they applied with a fake age. I see that they start working with the registrations of their relatives and neighbors. And they have to act like an adult. They suffer from exhaust as they have to work more like adults although they are child laborers. When the employers found out that they were child laborers, they would intimidate them by saying not only the employer but also the parent would be taken action. They have to be silent as they are told that their parents would be taken actions. In some cases, there are things that disappear as they are keeping silent. 

Question. Can it be said that the entrepreneurs knowingly force child labor on purpose? Can their interests be greater by forcing child laborers?

Answer. Many entrepreneurs do not want to employ child labor. They employ them only because of the cheaper wages.  Those factories that are intimidating are the factories that does not give, 4,800 mmk daily. In the factory we saw last month where many child laborers are working, they are not paid 4,800 like adult workers. They are hired as their labor price is cheaper.

Question. How can we prevent entrepreneurs from exploiting the wages and labor of child workers?

Answer. .If workers comply with the child labor regulations set out in the law, they will be able to prevent wage and labor exploitation. The law stipulates that anyone between the ages of 16 and 18 can work with a doctor's certificate. So that they don’t need to work overtime and Working hours are also limited.

These can be prevented. But in the case of child labor, the employer will not hire many of them as they have to give them exceptions. Many are dismissed as soon as they are found out as they are child laborers.

(Children between the ages of 14 and 16 are defined as child laborers by the law and are allowed to work with some restrictions. For those between the ages of 16 and 18, they need a certificate that they can work like an adult.)

Question. Do we need to amend the labor law so that child workers are paid the same wages as other workers and they are not exploited? Or do entrepreneurs need to be ethical?

Answer. I see that both are necessary. Laws need to be amended, and entrepreneurs also need to be ethical too.

Question. Every time the relevant person inspects the workplace, day laborers and child laborers are suspended from work, fired or told to hide. Does this physically and mentally harm to them?

Answer. Yes it does. They came to work and have to go back as there is no works today or there is inspection. They don't get money. They can be affected mentally and physically.

Question. There are no effective actions upon child labor violations. Why? How should we proceed?

Answer. As mentioned before, they have already intimidated. The actions will be taken to many people regarding child labor issue. The themselves do not want to face it. They don't want to make such complaints. So, it’s void.

Question. What do you think both employers and workers need to improve in order for child laborers to have equal rights? Please let me know if there are any points to improve other than these two sides.

Answer. I don't want to talk about child labor getting equal rights. Because an 18-year-old child should not be in the workplace at all. Many policies need to be established to eliminate child labors. Just saying no to child labor is not enough. We can’t make a policy in just one perspective but instead from all sides. For example, if a house depends on the child's wages, that child would end up in an illegal workplace. That child will have to face worse situations. It is also related to the situation in the country. It is not easy for child laborers to have equal rights in these times as the politics and economy are not stable. We can't focus on just one issue and promote it. How can we make good policies at a time when the whole country is facing problems? We can’t. Are we ready for to educate them and their education? Who would take responsibility for their parents. These are things to consider alternatively. I think we cannot prioritize only a single project under the name of “To eliminate the child labors and equal rights.”

Question. Although it is said that they are working with plans to eliminate child labor, it has not been eliminated, but it has increased. Are the plans and actions have the needs and if so what are those?

Answer. A state policy cannot be made by the Ministry of Labor alone. Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Welfare, City Municipality etc. need to be involved from all sides. If a family lives in squatter and unemployed, it is sure that the child have to work. What kind of work will they do? Who will be responsible for the elderly and disable people? The government must take responsibility. Therefore, if we plan a project, we can't just do it alone, we need to make a plan that includes all stakeholders. The current situation is not a situation where stakeholders and the relevant ministries have to sit face to face and formulate good policies. So, this issue is difficult to discuss.

Question. Rather than eliminating child labor, what do you think should be done for the current child laborers?

Answer. In order to eliminate child labor, I think we need to first find out why child labors exist. As I said before, the child have to work mandatorily if the family is facing hard livelihoods. So, what kind of work will protect the child? Suppose that we told the children not to come to the workplace if so, they would to work at illegal business, so will it be safe? One workplace no longer has child labor. One place is succeeded but the next place will be stained with sin. It would not be a good society.  There would be many street child if the Ministry of Labor alone plan the child labor elimination projects.

Question. Please add something if you have more to say.

Answer. It is difficult to eliminate child labor in such this country. Child labor will exist unless the country is developed. So, regarding how do we consider for about child laborers, we have to think about political stability first. I think we will be able to think about related issues one by one if we have political stability.