What Myanmar law says
Myanmar's Minimum Wage Law 2013 empowers the National Committee for the Minimum Wage (chaired by MoLES) to set a national floor by notification. The current notification fixes the floor at MMK 4,800 per 8-hour working day, applicable to most employers with 10 or more workers. Family-owned businesses and seasonal agricultural work are typically excluded.
The rate is a basic wage floor. It does not include statutory overtime, allowances, or bonuses. Employers may pay above the floor but never below it for covered work.
Calculation — daily, hourly, and monthly equivalents
| Basis | Calculation | Amount (MMK) |
|---|---|---|
| Daily (8 hours) | Notification rate | 4,800 |
| Hourly | 4,800 ÷ 8 | 600 |
| Monthly (30-day) | 4,800 × 30 | 144,000 |
| Monthly (26 working days) | 4,800 × 26 | 124,800 |
Employers paying monthly typically use the 30-day equivalent for full-time staff because Myanmar payroll convention treats weekly rest as paid. Daily-wage workers are paid only for days worked.
Documentation requirements
- Payslip mandatory for every wage payment, with itemised gross, deductions, and net.
- Wage register showing the rate paid against the minimum wage benchmark.
- Record retention: at least 7 years.
- Payment frequency must follow the contract — monthly wages typically due by the 7th of the following month.
Edge cases
- Probationary workers — minimum wage applies in full from day one; no probation discount.
- Apprentices and trainees — generally covered, with limited exceptions if licensed under a recognised training scheme.
- Daily-wage workers — paid the daily floor for each day worked; rest days are typically unpaid unless the contract provides otherwise.
- Piece-rate workers — total earnings for the period must not fall below the minimum wage equivalent for hours worked.
- USD-paid expats — the MMK equivalent on the payment date must clear the floor (see salary paid in USD).
- SSB and PIT — both apply on minimum-wage earnings if the employer is registered (see how allowances are taxed).
Employer takeaway
Pay no less than MMK 4,800 per 8-hour day (current notification) for any covered worker. Treat the floor as basic wage — overtime, weekend, and public-holiday premiums apply on top. Issue a payslip every cycle, pay monthly wages by the 7th of the following month, and retain wage registers for 7 years. Late payment is a Payment of Wages Law violation.
Common payroll mistakes
- Treating the floor as gross including allowances — it is the basic wage only.
- Paying daily-wage workers below the floor on short days (under 8 hours) without pro-ration based on hourly rate MMK 600/hr.
- Missing the next minimum-wage notification update and continuing to pay the old rate.
- Computing OT on the minimum wage but paying basic at a lower rate — both must clear the floor.
- Failing to issue a compliant payslip showing the rate applied (see payslip requirements).
We publish practical, legally-grounded HR guidance for Myanmar employers. Each piece is reviewed by our compliance team against current MLIP and Labor Law requirements.