LABOUR RIGHTS INDEX 2022

Myanmar

Trade Union Indicator

The Labour Rights Index 2022 (LRI 2022) is a de-jure index covering 135 economies and structured around the working lifespan of a worker. In total, 46 questions or evaluation criteria are scored across 10 indicators. The overall score is calculated by taking the average of each indicator, with 100 being the highest possible score. The Index uses a rating system, ranging from โ€œTotal Lack of Decent Workโ€ to โ€œDecent Workโ€. The Labour Rights Index aims at an active contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, by providing necessary (complementary) insights into de jure provisions on issues covered in particular by SDG8 (Decent Jobs), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Strong Institutions). The Index is based on national labour legislation, applicable on 1 January 2022. The Index does not take into account COVID-19 related labour market measures in its scoring.

Myanmarโ€™s overall score is 63 out of 100. The overall score for Myanmar is lower than the regional average observed across South East Asia (62.33). Within the South East Asia region, the highest score is observed for Viet Nam (75).

Myanmar ratified Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) in 1955 but has not ratified Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949).

Question

Answer

Score

Legal Basis

Violation

Does the law allow workers to form and join unions of their own choice?

No

0

ยง354(c), Constitution 2008; ยง2(h), 4, 9-11 & 29, Labour Organisation Law 2011

A

Does the law allow workers to bargain collectively with employers through their representative unions?

Yes

1

ยง2 & 5 of the Settlement of Labour Disputes Law 2012; ยง31 of the Labour Organisation Law, 2011

Does the law provide for the right to strike?

No

0

ยง2(g) & 38-50, Labour Organization Law 2011

A

Does the law prohibit employers from terminating employment contracts of striking workers?

Yes

1

ยง44 of the Labour Organization Law 2011

Textual sources

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

B : CEACR

CEACR: ILO Committee of Experts on Application of Conventions and Recommendations (latest report)

C : ITUC

ITUC: ITUC Global Rights Index 2022

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2021

LRI Country Score
The Labour Rights Index has 10 indicators and 46 sub-indicators. The LRI Country score averages 10 indicators and ranges between 0 and 100. The lowest and highest scorers are Nigeria (29/100) and Belgium/Greece (96/100).ย https://labourrightsindex.org/ย ย 

Trade Union Indicator
The trade union indicator is composed of 4 sub-indicators. Scoring is done through the binary method (0 or 1). The score ranges between 0-100.ย 

Trade union density rate (%)
The trade union density rate conveys the number of union members who are employees as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on trade union density, please check ILOSTAT.ย 

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)
The collective bargaining coverage rate conveys the number of employees whose pay and/or conditions of employment are determined by one or more collective agreement(s) as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on collective bargaining coverage, please check ILOSTAT.ย 

SDG indicator 8.8.2
SDG indicator 8.8.2 measures national compliance with fundamental labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining or FACB). It ranges from 0 to 10, with 0 being the best possible score (indicating higher levels of compliance with FACB rights) and 10 the worst (indicating lower levels of compliance with FACB rights). It is based on six ILO supervisory body textual sources and national legislation.
For an updated assessment on SDG indicator 8.8.2, please check ILOSTAT.ย 

ITUC Global Rights Index 2022 Ratings
The ITUC Global Rights Index depicts the worldโ€™s worst countries for workers by rating 148 countries on a scale from 1 to 5+ on the degree of respect for workersโ€™ rights. Violations are recorded each year from April to March.ย  For a detailed description of ratings and methodology, please follow the link.ย 

To find an ITUC affiliate in your country, please check the LINK:

Violations

National Labour Legislation
ยง4 of Labour Organisation Law 2011

Section 4. In forming the various levels of labour organization to enable to carry out the interest of the workers and employers:
(a) โ‘ด Basic Labour Organizations may be formed by a minimum number of 30
workers working in the relevant trade or activity according to the category of
trade or activity. If it is a trade or activity having less than 30 workers, it may
form so jointly with any other trade of the same nature;
(ii) In so forming, it shall be recommended by not less than 10 percent of all
workers of the relevant trade or activity;

Violations

No Violation

Violations

National Labour Legislation
ยง41 (e) of Labour Organization Law 2011

Section 41. The lock-out or strike shall be illegal lock-out or strike if it is involved with any of the
followings;
(a) being the following essential services, those whose interruption are liable to
endanger the life, health or security of the people in any segment of the population:
(i) water services;
(ii) electricity services;
(iii) fire services;
(iv) health services;
(v) telecommunications services.
Explanation: A non-essential service may become an essential service if the strike affecting it
exceeds a certain duration so as to give rise to damage which are irreversible or out
of all proportion to the occupational interests of those involved in the dispute.
(b) going on strike by labour organizations without permission of the relevant labour
federation;
(c) failing to inform in advance in accord with the provision of this Law in respect of
lock-out or strike;
(d) not being relevant to the labour affairs such as wages, salaries, welfare and
working hours or other matters relating to the occupational interest of the workers;
(e) the strike not being in conformity with the date, place, time, period, number of
participants and manner as obtained permission in advance.

Violations

No Violation