The Government of Japan, under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, has granted US $90,312 for the Project for Construction of the National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Training Center in Hlaingtharyar Township, Yangon Region.

The handover ceremony of the new training center for the project took place in Hlaingtharyar Township on 16 August 2019. U Thein Swe, Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population, Daw Moe Moe Su Kyi, Minister for Immigration and Human Resources of Yangon Region, H.E. Mr. Ichiro MARUYAMA, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar, Mr. Kazuyuki TAKIMI, Counselor of the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Yuta ISOZAKI, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, and Mr. Hiroyuki OISHI, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, members of the construction project committee and local residents attended the ceremony.

Hlaingtharyar Township has a number of small and medium-sized factories, attracting laborers from all across Myanmar. Along with the industrial development, Hlaingtharyar experienced occupational hazards and environmental pollution due to lack of sufficient understanding of standards on occupational safety and health among employers and workers. Although the Factories and General Laws Inspection Department under the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population has been conducting training courses in Hlaingtharyar on OSH, it has been facing difficulties to widely spread the necessary information due to lack of training facilities. The Government of Japan provided assistance for the construction of a three-story reinforced concrete building dedicated for OSH training to help settle the difficulties. The project will benefit around 3,600 labourers per year who are expected to attend training courses and seminars conducted by the center.

The Government of Japan has assisted 904 grass-roots projects, including 467 education projects, 200 healthcare projects, 140 public welfare and environment projects, 61 infrastructure projects and 36 others in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993. This assistance is expected to further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Myanmar and Japan.