Country profile MMR
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5-17 | 10.2 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2015 | 5-17 | 9.7 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2015 | 5-17 | 9.9 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2015 | 5-17 | 8.7 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2015 | 5-17 | 7.6 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2015 | 5-17 | 8.1 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2019 | C138 & C182 | Child Rights Law - Section 49(a) | [{"link_name":"Child Rights Law","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/109405/MMR109405.pdf"}] | No | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | Section 49(a) of the Child Rights Law, 2019 mandates the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population to determine hazardous types of employment and sites in consultation with the relevant employers' and workers' organisations. A draft list has been prepared and is currently under review for approval. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2019-07-23 ; 2016-01-25 | C138 & C182 | Child Rights Law - Sections 3 (t), 48(a), 49 (a); Shops and Establishments Law (2016) - Sections 14(d), 14 (e) | [{"link_name":"-Child Rights Law","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/109405/MMR109405.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Shops and Establishments Law","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/101962/MMR101962%20Eng.pdf"}] | 16-18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Section 48(a) of the Child Rights Law prohibits the employment of any child under the age of 18 in hazardous work, identifying it as a worst form of child labour under section 3(t). Section 14(d) of the Shops and Establishments Law, 2016, similarly prohibits employing individuals under 18 in dangerous work or workplaces. In addition, Section 14(e) of the Law prescribes that persons who have not attained the age of 18 but already attained the age of 16, and completed the relevant vocational trainings, and know and abide by the directives relating to the occupational safety and health, are fit to work may, certified by the registered medical practitioner, be allowed to work in the trades which are safe and do not affect the development and morale of such persons. Section 49(a) of the Child Rights Law assigns the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population the responsibility to determine hazardous work types and sites, in consultation with employers' and workers' organisations. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2019 ; 1993 | C182 | Child Rights Law - Sections 3(t)(3), 48(a), 108 ; Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law - Sections 16 - 22 | [{"link_name":"-Child Rights Law","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/109405/MMR109405.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/normlex-permalink/comment/en/4349257"},{"link_name":"-Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law","source_link":"https://www.myanmar-law-library.org/topics/myanmar-property-law/the-narcotic-drugs-and-psychotropic-substances-law-1993.html"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Section 48(a) of the Child Rights Law, 2019, prohibits the employment of children under 18 in the worst forms of child labour. Section 3(t)(3) defines these worst forms to include persuading, purchasing, utilising or proposing a child for illegal drug operations, including production and smuggling. However, the law does not clearly stipulate penalties for these acts. Section 108 refers instead to penalties under other relevant existing legislation for any offence not specifically penalised within the Child Rights Law. The Committee of Experts has requested the authorities to clarify applicable penalties and report on enforcement, including the number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sanctions. In addition, it is worth noting that Sections 16 to 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law criminalize the use of children under the age of 16 for the commission of any of the acts described in Sections 16 to 21, which include drug production, trafficking, and fraud. Penalties are set out in these Sections for the committing of such acts. Nevertheless, children aged 16 and 17 are not covered by this protection. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2019 | C182 | Child Rights Law - Sections 66, 104 | [{"link_name":"Child Rights Law","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/109405/MMR109405.pdf"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Section 66 of the Child Rights Law (2019) prohibits using, procuring, or offering children under 18 for prostitution or pornographic materials. Section 104 provides for penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2019 | C182 | Child Rights Law - Sections 61, 63, 64, 103 (b), 104 | [{"link_name":"Child Rights Law","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/109405/MMR109405.pdf"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | Section 61 of the Child Rights Law (2019) prohibits the recruitment or use of children in armed conflict, including coercion or forced summons of children to transport food, weapons, and supplies. Sections 63 and 64 prohibit the recruitment and use of children under 18 by the Tatmadaw or other groups. Sections 103(b) and 104 establish penalties for violations, including imprisonment and fines. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2019 | C182 | Child Rights Law - Article 66 | [{"link_name":"Child Rights Law","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/109405/MMR109405.pdf"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | Article 66 of the Child Rights Law, 2019 prohibits the sale, trafficking, abduction, and forced labour of children, including for sexual exploitation. It criminalises actions that place children in slavery or similar situations and mandates protective and punitive measures. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/normlex-permalink/comment/en/4349354"}] | No | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | As of the latest CEACR Direct request (2023), there is no legislation in Myanmar that explicitly sets out the conditions or minimum age for apprenticeships under the terms of C138. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2019 ; 2016 ; 1951 ; 2014 | C138 | Child Rights Law - Section 48. (b) ; Shops and Establishments Law; Factories Act - 13. (a); National Education Law (NEL) and 2015 Amendment | [{"link_name":"-Child Rights Law","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/109405/MMR109405.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:13100:0::NO::P13100_COMMENT_ID%2CP13100_COUNTRY_ID:4349354%2C103159"},{"link_name":"-Shops and Establishments Law","source_link":"https://www.lincolnmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/25-Jan-2016-Shops-and-Establishments-Law-2016.pdf"},{"link_name":"-National Education Law","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/100493/MMR100493%20Eng.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Factories Act","source_link":"https://www.myanmar-law-library.org/spip.php?page=pdfjs&id_document=1437"}] | No | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | The minimum age for employment is 14 years under the Child Rights Law (2019), Shops and Establishments Law (2016), and Factories Act (1951). However, compulsory education ends at age 11, after five years of primary education as per the National Education Law (2014) and its 2015 Amendment. This gap creates a risk of economic exploitation. The CEACR encourages Myanmar to extend compulsory education to at least age 14 to align with the employment age. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/normlex-permalink/comment/en/4349354"}] | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | As noted in the CEACR 2023 Direct Request, Myanmar has not adopted particular regulations defining the scope of light work for children aged 12–14, nor has it specified the hours and conditions in which such work may be carried out, as required by Article 7(3) of Convention No. 138. The Committee has requested the military authorities to take measures to adopt and implement such regulations. |
| Minimum age for light work | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/normlex-permalink/comment/en/4349354"}] | N/A | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | According to the CEACR 2023 Direct Request, there is currently no particular regulation in Myanmar defining light work or setting out related conditions and permissible hours for children aged 12–14. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2019 ; 1951 ; 2016 | C138 | Child Rights Law (2019) - Section 48. (b) ; Factories Act (1951) ; Shops and Establishments Law (2016) - Section 13 (a) | [{"link_name":"-Child Rights Law","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/109405/MMR109405.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Factories Act","source_link":"https://www.myanmar-law-library.org/spip.php?page=pdfjs&id_document=1437"},{"link_name":"-Shops and Establishements Law","source_link":"https://www.lincolnmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/25-Jan-2016-Shops-and-Establishments-Law-2016.pdf"}] | 14 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | Myanmar ratified ILO Convention No. 138 on 8 June 2020 and made use of the transitional measure under Article 2(4), setting the minimum age for admission to employment at 14 years. National legislation reflects this: the Child Rights Law (2019) allows employment of children aged 14–18 under certain conditions, including limited working hours and the requirement of a medical fitness certificate. The Factories Act (1951) and Shops and Establishments Act (2016) contain similar provisions, ensuring that children under 14 are prohibited from working and that those aged 14–16 are protected from night work and excessive hours. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 18-DEC-2013 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 08-JUN-2020 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This plan is part of a broader strategy divided into three five-year phases (2019–2023, 2023–2028, and 2029–2033), aiming to progressively eliminate child labour in the country. The first phase focused on raising awareness, legal reform in line with international standards, capacity building of state institutions, and operationalisation of interventions in priority sectors such as industry, manufacturing, commerce, and trade. | [{"link_name":"Myanmar National Action Plan on Elimination of Child Labour","source_link":"https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/Hachemian.Sara.C%40dol.gov/MM770F~1.PDF"}] | 2019–2023 | Myanmar National Action Plan on Elimination of Child Labour (2019–2023) | National Committee on the Elimination of Child Labour (NCECL) |
| Myanmar's fourth Five-Year National Plan of Action aims to combat human trafficking through a comprehensive approach encompassing prevention, protection, prosecution, and policy coordination. The plan outlines 84 activities across four key sectors: 23 in Policy and Cooperation, 16 in Prevention, 20 in Prosecution, and 25 in Protection. It addresses emerging challenges such as online scams and digital exploitation, and includes measures like public awareness campaigns, victim support services, and international cooperation. | [{"link_name":"NAP to Combat Human Trafficking","source_link":"https://www.moi.gov.mm/moi%3Aeng/news/11528"}] | 2022-2026 | National Plan of Action (NPA) to Combat Human Trafficking (2022-26) | Central Body for Suppression of Trafficking in Persons |