Ministry of Labour yesterday discussed Thingyan holidays with employers at the office of Union of Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry –UMFCCI, in Yangon and agreed to have a 10-day break for the workers in the Yangon Region during the Thingyan water festival.
The Union government announced on March 10 that they may half the Thingyan holidays to five days because long holidays caused inconvenience for business, money transfer services, international trade and public transport.
The planned break of April 12 to 21 will be cut to April 13 to 17 if approved. The Water Festival which marks the Myanmar New Year is being limited to April 13 to 17.
However, labour organizations in Yangon Region didn’t accept the government’s plan to reduce the holidays and submitted their objection to the Labour Ministry.
“Although Thingyan break will start from April 12 to 21, the incumbent government cut the Thingyan holiday to April 13 to 17. So, workers requested that we give them a 10-day Thingyan break. The employers also agreed that they would be designating the remaining five holidays as a leave, adding reduced holidays to other holidays and working overtime hours depending on the categories,” said Myo Aung, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.
The media asked whether the government will make an announcement or not concerning the10-days Thingyan holidays.
Myo Aung replied that they would submit the agreement to the Union Minister. If in need, the Union Minister will decide. He may also submit the plan to the government with the aim to gain more support.
Source: Eleven Myanmar
