Yangon-Nearly 17,000 workers are out of job due to the temporary or complete closures of factories and lay-offs in Yangon Region, said Yangon Region Minister for Immigration and Human Resources Daw Moe Moe Su Kyi.

“Till 22 March, the number of factories which laid off workers or stop their operations permanently or temporarily, has reached 37,” Region MInister Daw Moe Moe Su Kyi added.

The region minister said she has directed relevant departments to help the jobless workers get new jobs.

Among the factories which laid off workers or stopped their operations permanently or temporarily, the garment factories are the most.

Labour Affairs Department in Hlaingtharyar Township is working on the payment of salaries and compensations for workers and checks whether or not the closed factories actually face the shortage of raw materials.

Local garment factories and other factories have to rely mainly on raw materials from China.

Most of factories are likely to close due to a shortfall of raw materials.