How are apprenticeships regulated in Myanmar?
Apprenticeships in Myanmar are regulated under the Employment & Skills Development Law (ESDL) 2013, which links them to the national skills development framework. Employers must sign a written apprenticeship agreement covering training plan, duration, allowance, and certification, register the apprentice with SSB within 30 days, and follow OSH duties for safety-sensitive trades.
What Myanmar law and practice say
Apprenticeships in Myanmar sit inside the Employment & Skills Development Law (ESDL) 2013, which the legislature designed to link the employment relationship with the national skills development framework run by the Employment and Skills Development Council (ESDC). An apprenticeship is therefore both an employment relationship and a structured training programme: the employer commits to training, the apprentice commits to learning and working, and the relationship runs under a written apprenticeship agreement.
For most legal purposes, an apprentice is treated like any other employee — Insured Person status under the Social Security Law 2012, OSH Law 2019 fitness-for-work duties, and standard wage-payment protections — with additional training-specific obligations layered on top.
What an apprenticeship agreement should contain
| Clause | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trade or skill being taught | Yes | ESDL apprenticeship link |
| Duration of apprenticeship | Yes | Often 1–3 years by trade |
| Training plan and progression milestones | Yes | Aligned to ESDC standard if applicable |
| Allowance / wage | Yes | Paid; may scale with progression |
| Hours and days off | Yes | Per Factories / S&E Act |
| Leave entitlements | Yes | Pro-rata if fixed term |
| SSB Insured Person registration | Yes (within 30 days) | Social Security Law 2012 |
| OSH safety duties | Yes | OSH Law 2019 |
| Certification on completion | Yes | ESDC certification where applicable |
| Termination grounds | Yes | Per ESDL / Notification 84/2015 |
Process and timeline
- Define the apprenticeship trade, training plan, and duration — Day -14.
- Issue a written apprenticeship agreement at offer / Day 0.
- Register the apprentice with SSB within 30 days.
- Apply for IRD TIN before first allowance / wage payment.
- Run OSH safety induction and document signed acknowledgement.
- Hold periodic progression reviews aligned with the training plan.
- Issue a completion certificate at end of term, or convert to a permanent appointment letter.
Employer takeaway
Treat the apprenticeship as an employment relationship plus a training programme. Use a written ESDL apprenticeship agreement covering trade, duration, allowance, training plan, and certification. Register with SSB within 30 days, run OSH inductions, and align with the ESDC framework where the trade has a national standard. Retain the apprentice's personnel and training file at least 7 years post-exit.
Edge cases
- Apprentice-to-permanent conversion — issue a new ESDL appointment letter; SSB continues.
- Apprentice leaves mid-term — apply ESDL notice; cost recovery for training only if expressly agreed.
- Foreign-national apprentice — immigration documents required (see foreign-worker hiring).
- Trade-school placement — tripartite agreement (school + employer + apprentice).
Common hiring mistakes
- Running an apprenticeship without a written agreement.
- Skipping SSB enrolment because "the apprentice is in training" (see SSB rules).
- Treating apprentices as unpaid trainees in safety-sensitive trades.
- Forgetting to issue a completion certificate at the end of term.
- Employment & Skills Development Law (ESDL) 2013 — apprenticeship provisions
- Employment & Skills Development Council (ESDC) framework
- Social Security Law 2012 — Insured Person registration
- OSH Law 2019 — safety duties for trade learners
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