MYPOD – Work environment, productivity and social dialogue in Myanmar garment industry

The MYPOD project, launched in 2017, aimed to improve job quality while fostering sustainable value addition and enhancing Myanmar’s participation in the global garment value chain. The MYPOD approach focused on capacity building of key stakeholders in and around the garment sector with a specific focus on social dialogue, workers’ rights, workers’ health and safety in addition to a key objective relating to increased productivity. The project activities were developed in close alignment with trade union federations in Myanmar and focused on ongoing initiatives in the Myanmar garment sector. This included the implementation of the Myanmar Guideline on Freedom of Association (FOA), agreed upon in November 2019, as well as efforts by the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM), the Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM), IndustriALL Global Union, and the Myanmar Joint Action Group. 

The Military Coup in Feb 2021 had a severe impact on the project and its ability to implement activities surrounding workers’ rights, ultimately leading to a premature closing of the project. 

Despite the difficult contextual circumstances and premature closing, workers and employers benefited from improved social dialogue capacity, also at sector level. This led to greater respect for workers’ rights and better health and safety protection. Consequently, the work environment and productivity were improved – contributing to more decent jobs.