Burma (Myanmar)

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

Special pension system for public-sector employees only.

Survivor Benefits

Funeral grant: 1,000 kyats, payable under the sickness and maternity program.

Sickness and Maternity

Regulatory Framework

First and current law: 1954.

Type of program: Social insurance system providing cash and medical benefits.

Coverage

Employees of firms in industry and commerce with five or more workers and employees of specified industries and services.

Coverage is being extended gradually to different regions. Coverage is provided in Yangon, Mandalay, Mawlamyaing, Pathein, Bago, and 92 townships.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 0.5% to 1% of earnings, according to 10 wage classes.

Employer: 0.5% to 1% of payroll, according to 10 wage classes.

Government: Subsidies if necessary.

Maximum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are 1,000 kyats.

Qualifying Conditions

Cash sickness benefits: Seventeen weeks of contributions in the last 26 weeks (or registered as unemployed for not more than 26 weeks).

Cash maternity benefit: Twenty-six weeks of contributions in the 52 weeks before the expected date of childbirth.

Medical benefits: In insured employment (or registered as unemployed for not more than 26 weeks).

Sickness and Maternity Benefits

Sickness benefit: 50% of earnings, according to 10 wage classes. The benefit is payable from the first day of incapacity for up to 26 weeks for one illness.

The minimum benefit is 2.55 kyats a day.

Maternity benefit: 2/3 of earnings, according to 10 wage classes. The benefit is payable for 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after childbirth.

The minimum benefit is 2.55 kyats a day.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Medical services are provided directly to patients through the Social Security Board's dispensaries and hospital, the dispensaries of large employers, and public hospitals. Benefits include medical care at the dispensary, emergency domiciliary care, specialist and laboratory services at a diagnostic center, necessary hospitalization, maternity care, and medicines.

The duration of benefits is 26 weeks for one illness (may be extended in special cases).

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor provides general supervision.

Social Security Board administers the program.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1923.

Current law: 1954 (social insurance). The first law is still in force for nonagricultural employees not yet covered by the current law.

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employees of firms in industry and commerce with five or more workers and employees of specified industries and services.

Coverage is being extended gradually to different regions. Coverage is provided in Yangon, Mandalay, Mawlamyaing, and 92 other districts.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Employer: 1% of payroll, according to 10 wage classes.

Government: None.

Maximum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are 1,000 kyats.

Qualifying Conditions

Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period.

Temporary Disability Benefits

2/3 of earnings, according to 10 wage classes. The benefit is payable from the first day of incapacity for up to 52 weeks.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Permanent disability pension: 2/3 of earnings, according to 10 wage classes, if totally disabled.

Constant-attendance supplement: 25% of the insured's pension.

Partial disability: A percentage of the full pension, calculated according to the percentage loss of capacity; if the loss of capacity is less than 20%, the benefit is converted to a lump sum equal to 5 years' pension.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Same as for sickness benefit but with appliances also provided. There is no limit on duration.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: Between 28 kyats and 267 kyats a month, according to 10 wage classes. The average benefit is about 27% of covered earnings.

Orphan's pension: Between 14 kyats and 133.50 kyats a month, according to 10 wage classes for each orphan under age 16. The average pension is about 13% of covered earnings.

Full orphans: Between 21 kyats and 200 kyats each. The average pension is about 20% of covered earnings.

Other eligible survivors (if no widow or orphan): Aged or disabled dependent relatives.

Maximum survivor pension: 2/3 of earnings.

Funeral grant: 1,000 kyats.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor provides general supervision.

Social Security Board administers contributions and benefits.