Social Security Benefits Paid Out Around 13 Billion Kyats

It has been learned from the Ministry of Labour that approximately 12.97 billion kyats were approved and disbursed as social security benefits from February to August 2026. This was stated by Union Minister U Khin Maung Soe, Chairman of the National Social Security Board, at the National Social Security Board meeting held at the Ministry of Labour on September 24. It is said that currently, the social security scheme has been implemented covering 36,899 establishments and 1.38 million insured workers in 136 townships. Furthermore, regarding the social protection of Myanmar migrant workers abroad, cooperation is underway with the Social Security Organisation of Malaysia and MOC through signing agreements, and negotiations are being held to cooperate with the Social Security Organisation of Thailand. The Union Minister stated that comparative analyses of social security systems in neighbouring countries should be conducted to provide better services to insured workers and to make the scheme inclusive for the entire nation, and that necessary reforms should continue to be carried out. It is learned that to provide more effective and better healthcare services to insured workers, contracts have been signed with private hospitals and clinics, and healthcare services are being provided by opening 72 clinics and 8 maternity wards under the Fee for Service Payment system. In addition, for the 2025-2026 academic year, as a family support benefit for educational expenses for the children of insured workers studying full-time, over 3.583 billion kyats were approved and disbursed for 89,967 students, children of 68,379 insured workers. It was also learned from the Ministry of Labour that work is underway to provide family support benefits for educational expenses for the 2026-2027 academic year, and that over 10.988 billion kyats were approved for 134,283 insured workers from 7,163 establishments as a family support benefit for natural disaster victims among insured workers affected by the Mandalay earthquake.