CNI News
28 May 2025
Due to the ongoing wars, military conscription law, and earthquakes in Myanmar, in the construction industry, skilled workers and ordinary workers have been scarce as well as higher daily wages, construction entrepreneurs told CNI News.
The daily wage of a laborer used to be around 10,000 kyats, but now it is much higher.
The increase in labor charge rates is likely due to the imbalance between the existing labor force and demand, U Myo Myint, general secretary of the Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Federation, told CNI News.
"Workers are very scarce. Because after the earthquake, a lot of workers are needed to clear the debris. The number of workers has been decreasing since then. Some people have gone abroad, so at the time of the earthquake, the number of workers was already decreasing. Labor costs have been increasing dramatically. These are among the reasons why construction work has stopped. The shortage of experts, engineers, and workers in the construction industry is an important aspect. Previously, the daily wage of a laborer was around 10,000 kyats, but now it is around 25,000 kyats. In some places, they are paid 40,000 to 50,000 kyats. Because demand and supply are not equal. I think it could be different in the next 4, 5, 6 months," he said.
While seeing construction workers
Currently, construction activity is low due to difficulties in purchasing construction materials and other issues following the earthquake, according to business owners.
The resumption of construction activities depends on the country's economy, and construction entrepreneurs are currently in discussions, U Maung Maung, chairman of Shwe Gabar Maung Maung Construction, told CNI News.
“Now, in Naypyidaw, Mandalay, and Sagaing, workers are asking for 40,000 kyats a day, 50,000 kyats a day, and so on. I heard that some contractors are hiring expensive workers as needed. We construction entrepreneurs are consulting on how to do it. The land price is too high, the labor cost is too high, and there are too many regulations. Whether these businesses can be started again will depend on the country's economy. If the economy is bad, there is little chance that they will be able to do so at the moment. We can't do it either because the amount of money we have and the amount of money we need to invest are too far apart," he said.
The SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that buildings must be built to withstand at least a Richter scale of 8 when they are constructed, while meeting with the public during his inspection visit to the earthquake-stricken Inle Lake region on April 11, 2025.
The government has set a price for cement for earthquake-affected buildings at 17,000 kyats per bag, but it is difficult to buy it on the ground, and the price is reportedly as high as 40,000 kyats.
