News
New minimum wage sees workers sacked and struggling
After almost two years of arguments and negotiations, Myanmar has set its first minimum wage at K3600 (US$2.80) per day. The milestone was met with ambivalence by factory owners, and trepidation by garment workers, who fear many jobs will be axed to afford the move. The ...
Food shortages still plague flood victims
Four weeks after President U Thein Sein declared a national state of emergency, the disaster relief effort is still struggling to feed all the flood victims. Community leaders say gaps in the coordination of aid are to blame. More than 451,000 disaster-affected people in states and regions ...
Pensions provide small support for elderly
A plan to roll out monthly pensions for the elderly remains mired in a logistical tangle – and those who qualify could receive as little as K15,000 a year. While the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement received the green light in December 2014 to implement ...
Construction begins on second Thai-Myanmar bridge
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 30 August for the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge that will play a key role in the East-West Economic Corridor traversing continental Southeast Asia. Keep reading ...
Rice federation forecasts exports to resume as scheduled in mid-September
Recently halted after severe flooding that inundated swathes of the country, Myanmar will resume rice exports as scheduled from mid-September, the country’s rice federation said on 31 August. Members of the Myanmar Rice Federation had agreed to a temporary pause on exports and to sell domestically at ...
Locals lead response to climate change in Myanmar
Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most well-known attractions, is framed in part by the lush-looking surrounds of the Shan mountain range. But on closer inspection, what appears to be the green of forest is mainly hardy bush and grass, dotted with a few small trees. Deforestation, particularly ...
Construction workers needed for Thai-Myanmar SEZ
A raft of additional labourers is needed as construction of the Thai-Myanmar Special Economic Zone in Mae Sot kicks off, Tak province, project leaders say. Keep reading ...
New Asian highway section put into service in Myanmar
The Myawaddy-Thinggan Nyenaung-Kawkareik section of the Asian highway linking India, Myanmar and Thailand was put into service on 30 August as scheduled, state radio and TV reported. Keep reading ...
Parliament approves more than $300m in soft loans
The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on 26 August gave the green light to US$305 million in new development loans focused on improving electricity supply, water supply and a major highway. MPs approved a $240 million loan from the Asian Development Bank, $20 million from the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund ...
Fighting erupts between Bangladesh, Arakan Army
A skirmish erupted along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on 26 August between the Border Guard Bangladesh and the Arakan Army ethnic armed group, resulting in the injury of one Bangladeshi border guard. Keep reading ...
