Extending the scope of social security to internal migrants in the informal economy: An analysis for Myanmar

Extending the scope of social security to internal migrants in the informal economy: an analysis for Myanmar, examines the extent of social protection coverage for workers in Myanmar, particularly internal migrant workers in the informal economy.

It reflects on challenges faced by internal migrants in accessing social security, as well as examining available labour market data on the informal economy and internal migration dynamics. The Covid-19 pandemic has evidenced the need to urgently expand social protection coverage in Myanmar, building on steps already taken by the Social Security Board, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population and by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.

The paper includes a set of policy recommendations to extend social security and social assistance to internal migrant workers in the informal economy in Myanmar, identifying priority sectors. The paper and its recommendations build on work undertaken by the Assessment Based National Dialogue exercise undertaken to lay the groundwork in building a nationally defined social protection floor in Myanmar.

This paper, was prepared by Mr Marius Olivier under the ILO Developing International and Internal Migratioin Governance (DIILM) project supported by Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT). It aims to support evidence based policy making to strengthen social protection and realization of fundamental rights in Myanmar.