Yangon garment factories in need of 20% skilled workforce
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Khit/ Yoon (NP News) - June 22
Each factory in Yangon’s industrial zone requires at least 20 percent skilled labor, according to entrepreneurs from the area. Domestic factories are struggling with a decrease in skilled labor in 2024, and a factory with 1,000 workers needs at least 300 skilled laborers.
“We are facing a decline in skilled labor. Every factory is dealing with this issue. Our factory needs about 100 workers. Each factory requires at least 20 percent skilled labor. For instance, a factory with 1,000 workers needs at least 200 to 300 skilled laborers,” an entrepreneur from a garment factory in Shwe Paukkan told The NP News.
The implementation of the new Conscription Law on February 10 has led to an increase in the number of migrant workers moving abroad, causing further difficulties for domestic factories. Additionally, some workers have migrated to garment factories operating in the Myanmar-China border territories, exacerbating the shortage of skilled labor.
“We have to recruit workers from villages or towns due to the labor demand. Every factory is struggling with this. Some workers are employed in garment factories at the Myanmar-China border. The situation has worsened this year. Some migrate to foreign countries for higher salaries. While some migrants find better working conditions abroad, others face issues such as human trafficking,” the entrepreneur said.
There are over 500 private garment factories in Myanmar, providing job opportunities for 400,000 people. About 300,000 workers are employed in garment factories in Yangon, and over 100,000 are working in Bago and Ayeyawady Regions. However, the number of migrant workers has surged.