YANGON, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population has provided social security benefits to a total of 26,305 workers of factories, workshops and workplaces affected by the restrictions against COVID-19 pandemic, said a ministry's release on Tuesday.
"During the period of COVID-19 crisis, some factories and workshops had to shut down due to their own difficulties while some had to temporarily close for inspections by the authorities as part of health measures. We are doing this to show support to them," U Myo Aung, permanent secretary of the ministry, told Xinhua.
As part of a move to contain the spread of COVID-19, all local factories had to close from April 20 to May 15 for mandatory inspections by the ministry concerned.
Workers from those factories who registered for social security under the Social Welfare Program will receive 40 percent of their salaries for the unemployed days in accordance with the Social Security Law, the ministry's release said.
Meanwhile, Myanmar authorities offered employment to over 9,300 local people in regions and states in April, down from over 24,000 in March due to the COVID-19 crisis, the ministry's figures said.
The ministry also announced suspension of sending migrant workers abroad and the issuance of employment contracts and overseas employment identity cards last month, as part of COVID-19 containment measures. Enditem
