You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

October 12, 2023

Changes to Minimum Wages in Myanmar

Subscribe to Updates

Myanmar has made important amendments to its minimum wage framework by increasing the minimum compensation for workers in both the public and private sectors.

Background

In May 2018, the National Committee for Setting the Minimum Wage determined that all workers in Myanmar should receive a minimum wage of MMK 4,800 per day (approx. USD 2.29), equivalent to MMK 600 per hour for an eight-hour workday. This rule applied to all workers, without differentiation in location or job.

Government Workers and Organizations

In September 2023, the Ministry of Planning and Finance announced that daily workers in government departments and organizations are entitled to receive an additional benefit of MMK 1,000 on top of their existing daily wage, which was already MMK 4,800. Consequently, they could earn a total of MMK 5,800 per day for eight hours of work.

Private-Sector Workers

On October 9, 2023, the national committee announced an increase of minimum wages for employees in the private sector. According to Notification No. 2/2023, workers at private-sector employers with more than 10 employees are now entitled to minimum compensation of MMK 5,800 per day (approx. USD 2.77)—an additional MMK 1,000 per eight-hour workday over the previously established minimum wage. The changes took effect on October 1, 2023.

For more details about these changes, or any aspect of employee compensation or employment law in Myanmar, please contact Tilleke & Gibbins at [email protected].

Related Professionals

Practices

Employment

Location

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

March 31, 2020
Delay in Social Security ContributionsOn March 20, 2020, Myanmar’s Social Security Board announced that it will allow employers to make social security payments quarterly, instead of monthly, due to the hardship businesses are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will provide a degree of relief for employers, although the measures do not yet go as far as reducing the required social security contributions.Workplace Requirements
Read More
March 31, 2020
Due to the complicated and unpredictable developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese government has taken various measures, which have grown more stringent over time, to combat the spread of the disease. Due in part to these timely measures, as of Monday, March 30, Vietnam had reported just over 200 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and no fatalities—encouraging numbers for a country of its size.
Read More
March 30, 2020
As the COVID-19 situation escalates, governments worldwide are imposing travel restrictions, mandatory quarantine procedures, and curfews and lockdowns in an attempt to slow the transmission of the virus. The Thai government has announced many measures to deal with the COVID-19 outbreaks, including ordering the postponement of the Songkran holidays and the temporary shutdown of portions of the public and private sectors. 
Read More
March 27, 2020
Due to the economic impact of COVID-19, the Board of the Social Security Office has agreed to reduce the rate for both employee and employer contributions to the Social Security Fund.On March 23, 2020, it was announced that there would be a reduction from a 5% contribution to a 4% contribution, for both employees and employers, for a period of six months, commencing in March and ending in August.
Read More