Myanmar garment struggles with labour shortage amid order surge

The garment factories in Myanmar’s industrial zones have received more orders than before.However, they are facing a shortage of local workers, creating job opportunities for job seekers, according to the sources.
“As a garment factory, the order receipt is good. The order from Bangladesh has reached us, not a few, but many hundreds of thousands. The order receipt is more than before. In terms of order receipt, the normal practice is to order in four months. Now, they order for a year,” said a garment factory owner.
Garment factories have more opportunities to receive such orders from abroad, but currently, factory workers are moving illegally to garment industries abroad, he said.
“It is good to have more orders, but without workers, there are difficulties. When we get more orders, we face a labour shortage.
Now, there are industrial zones on the border with China, so the workers go there illegally. As they can show their competence in practical work, they are employed with accommodation and meal allowances. Most people go illegally. They don’t need a passport to go illegally,” he said.
According to an HR manager of a garment factory, the current situation is creating a demand for workers in garment factories and the industry players want workers to seize this opportunity to get employed.
“Now we need workers, so we would like people to come and work. There are also opportunities. That’s why some have gone back home to other cities to bring their relatives to work. Some employees bring their own elder sister and younger sister to the same factory,” he said. — MT/ZN