Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance Daw Than Than Lin said there are currently no plans to provide civil servants and retiring employees with monthly supplies of rice, cooking oil and dry goods, or a fourth round of additional allowances.
She made the remarks in response to a question raised by U Myo Thant, a Pyithu Hluttaw representative from Sanchaung Constituency, on whether there were plans to provide dry goods and a fourth round of additional allowances to civil servants and retiring employees, at the 10th day of the third regular session of the Third Pyithu Hluttaw on Oct. 2.
The Deputy Minister said civil servants serving the State had been granted three rounds of additional allowances. The first allowance of K30,000 per month was provided starting in October 2023, the second K30,000 starting in August 2024, and the third K30,000 starting in October 2025, bringing the total additional monthly allowance to K90,000. Retired civil servants residing in the country were granted K30,000 per month as an additional allowance starting in August 2024 and another K30,000 starting in October 2025, for a total of K60,000 per month. She added that retiring civil servants are entitled to pensions calculated according to the salary rates effective from April 1, 2018, in accordance with the formulas prescribed under Rule 246(b) of the Civil Service Rules, with the K60,000 monthly additional allowance granted in two rounds added to their pensions.
The Ministry of Commerce is coordinating with the Myanmar Rice Federation to ensure that rice is available at reasonable prices to the public, including civil servants and retired civil servants, under arrangements and guidance from the relevant regional and state governments, including the Nay Pyi Taw Council. Palm oil distribution quotas are also allocated based on regional consumption needs, transportation and security conditions, and the oil is being distributed and sold to consumers, including civil servants and retired civil servants, through household oil purchase books under arrangements of the respective regional and state governments. She said some regional and state governments are also providing retired civil servants with health check-ups at public hospitals when they collect their pensions, as well as rice, cooking oil, eggs and dry goods from time to time. They are also providing meals and coordinating with relevant retail and wholesale representatives, departments and associations to sell essential goods at reduced prices on a monthly basis.
At present, she said, the Government is prioritizing measures to increase production, boost the national economy and promote the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Loans are being provided from the national economic promotion fund and MSME development fund, as well as agricultural loans. These measures are also intended to help ease the impact of rising commodity prices on the public, including government employees. The Deputy Minister said any decision to provide monthly rice, cooking oil and dry goods and a fourth round of additional allowances to civil servants and retiring employees would have to be reviewed based on the State’s financial position, budgetary capacity and economic development.
She further explained that all civil servants, including those approaching retirement, currently receive their prescribed salaries according to rank, additional allowances, uniform allowances, housing allowances, region-based allowances according to rank, actual travel expenses, daily travel allowances, accommodation expenses and other allowances provided under specific regulations. Retired civil servants also receive pensions and additional allowances. Therefore, she said, there are currently no plans for the government to provide civil servants and retiring employees with monthly supplies of rice, cooking oil and dry goods or a fourth round of additional allowances.
