Garment manufacturers will conduct surveys of their own to determine whether workers are justified in calling for a substantial raise to the national living wage, according to the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association quoted by the ecotextile website.

Two weeks ago, it was announced that the country’s government would conduct research across major cities on the cost of labour in the garment, food and commodity sectors as it looks to establish a new minimum wage, as is customary every two years.

In light of this, Myanmar’s National Minimum Wage Committee said it would call for what bosses now describe a “steep increase” to hourly wages, from 4800 Myanmar Kyat (US$3.30) to 7200 Kyat (US$5).