CNI News
14 March 2026
Political observers and business owners are currently analyzing how a new government should act to improve individual incomes and job opportunities for every citizen in Myanmar.
Sai Htay Aung, Chairman of the Tai-Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP), told CNI News that the incoming government needs to create jobs through companies and private enterprises. He emphasized that the government should set a minimum wage that is proportionate to current commodity prices.
He stated: "I believe the government must create opportunities for every citizen to work while simultaneously pursuing peace. Once a government is established, foreign investment will flow in, and we need to invite a lot of it. The government needs to create many jobs through companies and private sectors so citizens can find employment. If the people have the right to work, their hardships will ease.
Members of the grassroots class in Myanmar
Currently, the government-set minimum wage is 6,800 Kyats, which isn't even enough to cover food costs today. The government must set a wage that matches the cost of living. In this current era, a daily wage should be at least 15,000 Kyats for a person to reach a level of food sufficiency, and there should be rates higher than that as well. We must control inflation while creating job opportunities. If jobs are plentiful, the public economy will improve. Right now, many people want to work but lack the opportunity, leading them to go abroad. Without domestic jobs, people have reached a stage where they have no income. If every citizen has the chance to work, I believe the national economy will improve."
On March 10, 2026, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing spoke at a review meeting regarding national development efforts between 2021 and 2025. He stated that individual incomes—and subsequently national income—will only increase if every citizen actively works.
He said: "If we continue business as usual without striving to promote operations, the goal of poverty reduction cannot be achieved. Individual incomes will only rise, leading to a rise in national income, if every citizen actually works. Having agriculture and livestock businesses that match the local population will ensure local food sufficiency and keep basic food prices at a reasonable level."
People working for their livelihood by driving motor-boats
Business owner U Aung Pyae Sone told CNI News that a new government must prioritize two factors: increasing public income and expanding job opportunities. He noted that human resources have become scarcer than before and that issues like poor transportation and energy insufficiency must be addressed.
He stated: "When a government takes office, the first two things they must do are increase citizen income and expand job opportunities. Compared to other countries, we have many weaknesses. The main one is human resources; many youth capable of working have gone abroad. We need to first solve the issues of poor transportation and the lack of electricity. Only after solving these can we find new job opportunities.
Rather than just domestic job creation, the government needs to try harder to bring in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Once that is done and labor is recruited, people will get both jobs and income. This is the only way the economy will become manageable for the grassroots class."
Military and political observers pointed out that while a new government needs to consistently work on the peace process, it must also strive for economic stability. They suggested that a new administration might offer peace invitations while attempting to revitalize the economy.
However, everyone emphasized that economic and peace policies must be correct and upright, and current policies need to be thoroughly reviewed.
