€5-mn EU emergency fund for Myanmar garment workers

10 Apr '20

2 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

In solidarity with Myanmar and the workers at risk in the garment sector, the European Union (EU) recently created a Myan Ku (Quick Assistance) Fund, an emergency cash fund of € 5 million that will disburse cash transfers through Wave Money directly to the workers to help them through this crisis. The fund will offer three different kinds of support.

It will offer cash transfers of an expected average of 75,000 MMK monthly for one to three months for 30,000 to up to 80,000 workers in crisis who lost their jobs or face eviction from their homes. It will provide cash transfers of 125,000 MMK for workers whose contracts were illegally terminated and also transfer cash to workers in small and medium enterprises that agree to retain workers and continue cash or in-kind payments like accommodation and meals.

SMART Textile & Garments, the EU’s longstanding flagship programme assisting garment manufacturers in Myanmar in improving production standards and social and environmental corporate responsibility, will manage the Myan Ku Fund, the EU said in a press release.

SMART will work in close cooperation with local civil society organisations and trade unions in selecting recipients, and coordinate with its strong network of manufacturers and their associations, brands and government partners.

The fund will initially be available from April to December 2020 and is financed through the EU’s Humanitarian Development Peace Nexus Response Mechanism (NRM) managed by UNOPS.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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