Convention concerning Statistics of Wages and Hours of Work, 1938 (No. 63) - Myanmar (Ratification: 1961)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Article 1(c) of the Convention. Communication to the ILO of the statistics covered by the Convention. Impact of COVID-19. In response to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government provides information in relation to the most recent Labour Force, Child Labour and School-to-Work Transition Survey, carried out with financial and technical assistance of the ILO in 2015. The Government also provides information on the annual Labour Force Surveys (LFS) that it has been conducting twice a year since 2017. The most recent LFS was carried out in 2020 (the first semi-annual LFS), but was not attached to the Government’s report. The Government indicates that the surveys are published and disseminated to statistical organizations, as well as being uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Labour, making them available to the public. The Committee notes that data from the LFS has been made available to the ILO on a regular basis, with the latest statistics on hours of work by occupation and wages by economic activity communicated to the ILO in 2019. The Government reports that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LFS has been postponed since the second semi-annual survey was conducted in 2020 and has not been carried out in 2021. In this respect, the Committee notes that, with the support of the ILO, a Comprehensive LFS is being prepared and it is anticipated that it will be carried out in 2022, together with the Labour Force, Child Labour and School-to-Work Transition Survey.   The Committee welcomes the developments with respect to the data collection efforts made by the Government under the Labour Force, Child Labour and School-to-Work Transition Survey, and the semi-annual Labour Force Surveys, which are regularly supplied to the Office. It requests the Government to continue to communicate updated statistical information on average earnings and hours of work available for the economy as a whole and disaggregated by main economic activity for the most recent time periods possible. In addition, it reiterates its request that the Government provide a copy of the most recent Statistical Yearbook available.

The Committee once again draws the Government’s attention to the recommendations of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group and the corresponding decision of the Governing Body at its 328th Session in October–November 2016 (GB.328/LILS/2/1), in which it called upon the Office to commence follow-up with Member States still bound by the Convention, encouraging them to ratify the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), as the most up-to-date instrument in this area. Ratification of Convention No. 160 would result in the automatic denunciation of Convention No. 63, which has been classified as an outdated instrument. The Committee urges the Government to consider ratifying Convention No. 160 and encourages the Government to avail itself of ILO technical assistance in this regard.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Article 1(c) of the Convention. Communication to the ILO of the statistics covered by the Convention. In its previous comments, the Committee requested information on average earnings and hours of work for the economy as a whole, disaggregated by main economic activity for the most recent time periods available, as well as a copy of the most recent Statistical Yearbook. The Committee notes that the Government’s report provides statistics on hours of work by occupation, and wages by economic activity; however, it is not clear to which time period these statistics refer. The Committee also notes the information communicated by the Government concerning the different statistical activities conducted and planned in Myanmar, including different types of household surveys, most notably the Annual Labour Force Survey, which is expected to take place regularly as of 2017. The Committee requests the Government to communicate updated statistical information on average earnings and hours of work available for the economy as a whole and disaggregated by main economic activity for the most recent time periods possible, specifying the time periods to which the statistics refer. It also reiterates its request that the Government provide a copy of the most recent Statistical Yearbook available.

The Committee once again draws the Government’s attention to the recommendations of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group and the corresponding decision of the Governing Body at its 328th Session in October–November 2016 (GB.328/LILS/2/1), in which it called upon the Office to commence follow-up with member States still bound by the Convention, encouraging them to ratify the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), as the most up-to-date instrument in this area, which would result in the automatic denunciation of Convention No. 63. The Committee urges the Government to consider ratifying Convention No. 160 and encourages the Government to avail itself of ILO technical assistance in this regard.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Article 1(c) of the Convention. Communication to the ILO of the statistics covered by the Convention. The Government indicates in its report that the Central Statistical Organization of Myanmar has two regular statistical publications: the Statistical Yearbook and the Selected Monthly Economic Indicators. The Government adds that efforts are being made to improve and upgrade statistical publications with more information based on international standards. It further states that a Statistical Yearbook was being drafted and that the publication would cover up to 2014 data. The Committee notes, however, that the ILO Department of Statistics does not have information of the statistical sources used to provide data for these publications and whether or not they cover the statistics mentioned under the Convention. Moreover, statistics on working time and earnings of employees are not regularly submitted to the ILO Department of Statistics via its annual questionnaire on labour statistics. The latest statistics on working time received by these means refer to 2008, while the latest statistics on earnings received refer to 1999. The Committee further notes that no new information in relation to Part II of the Convention has been communicated with the report or communicated to the ILO Department of Statistics. The Committee therefore requests that the Government communicate statistical information on average earnings and hours of work available for the economy as a whole and disaggregated by main economic activity for the most recent time periods possible. Please also communicate a copy of the most recent Statistical Yearbook available.

The Committee notes the recommendations of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group and the corresponding decision of the Governing Body at its 328th Session in October–November 2016 (GB.328/LILS/2/1) calling upon the Office to commence follow-up with member States that are still bound by the Convention, encouraging them to ratify the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), as the most up-to-date instrument in this area, and resulting in the automatic denunciation of Convention No. 63. The Committee reminds the Government of the availability of ILO technical assistance in this regards.

[The Government is asked to reply in full to the present comments in 2017.]

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

The Committee notes the Government’s report which was received at the ILO on 5 October 2010.

Article 1(b) and (c) of the Convention. Publication and communication to the ILO of the statistics covered by the Convention. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that, according to the Government’s report, the employment statistics collected through the Labour Exchange Offices are published in the Statistical Yearbook by the Central Statistical Office. The Committee observes, however, that to date no relevant publication has been received at the ILO as required by Article 1(c) of the Convention. The Committee therefore requests the Government to send a copy of the Statistical Yearbook to the ILO at the earliest possible date, as provided for in Article 1(c) of the Convention.

In this regard, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to Resolution I adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians concerning the measurement of working time. This document defines new concepts and measures in this area of statistics and can be accessed at the following link: http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/ resolutions/lang--en/docName--WCMS_112455/index.htm.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Publication of data. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee recalls that statistical data relating to wages and hours of work compiled pursuant to the Convention should be published as quickly as possible, in accordance with Article 1(b) of the Convention. It hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to report real progress in this regard.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

Article 1(b) of the Convention. Further to its previous direct request, the Committee notes that statistics of average earnings and hours actually worked, and statistics of average wage rates and normal hours of work, are regularly compiled (by economic activity, occupation and, where relevant, by sex) and have so far been communicated to the ILO covering up to the year 1997. It notes that the Department of Labour is fully aware of the importance attached to the publication of these data and that it will endeavour to publish them regularly and to communicate the relevant publications to the ILO. The Committee asks the Government to indicate any progress made in the publication of the statistics covered by the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Article 1(b) of the Convention. Further to its previous direct request, the Committee notes the Government's indication that statistics of wages and hours of work will be regularly published in the People's Workers' Gazette in the near future after settling some remaining constraints. The Committee hopes that the regular publication of statistics can be soon recommenced, and requests the Government to inform the ILO of any progress made.

Article 1(c). The Committee notes with interest that data for 1991 on average earnings and hours actually worked, and data for 1992 on average wage rates and normal hours of work have been communicated to the ILO. It hopes that the Government will continue its efforts to communicate the data compiled in pursuance of this Convention to the Office at the earliest possible date.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Article 1(b) of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government's reports that the publication of the People's Workers' Gazette including the statistics on average earnings and hours actually worked has ceased, and that attempts are now under way to publish it regularly, as before. The Committee hopes that the current difficulties will soon be overcome so that the regular publication of these statistics can be recommenced, and requests the Government to inform the ILO of any progress made.

Article 1(c). The Committee notes that the most recent data provided to the International Labour Office relate to 1989, and hopes that the Government will endeavour to communicate the data compiled in pursuance of this Convention to the Office at the earliest possible date.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 1(b) of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government's report that the data on average earnings and hours actually worked, are published in the People's Workers' Gazette, as well as the index numbers showing the general movement of earnings of regular workers, which have been communicated for the periods 1975-79 and 1978-83. It hopes that the Government will continue to endeavour to publish these data within the time-limits provided for in this Article.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1988, published 75th ILC session (1988)

Article 1(b) of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government's report that the data on average earnings and hours actually worked, are published in the People's Workers' Gazette, as well as the index numbers showing the general movement of earnings of regular workers, which have been communicated for the periods 1975-79 and 1978-83. It hopes that the Government will continue to endeavour to publish these data within the time- limits provided for in this Article.