ILO vocational training strengthens women’s economic empowerment and community resilience in Myanmar

ILO vocational training strengthens women's economic empowerment and community resilience in Myanmar

Skills training equips women to earn incomes, rebuild livelihoods and contribute to post-earthquake recovery in Mandalay and Southern Shan State.

4 December 2025

Yangon, Myanmar (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization (ILO) is giving women the skills required to find jobs and earn incomes, helping them recover from the devastating March 2025 earthquake in Myanmar.

In late November 2025, two training courses were launched in Southern Shan State: a two-week computer literacy course and a two-month advanced sewing techniques course. A total of 85 participants, the majority of whom were women, enrolled.

The training initiatives complement activities taking place under ILO's Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) that supports post-earthquake recovery.

Employment-intensive activities focusing on infrastructure recovery were launched in early November 2025 to generate short-term jobs in earthquake-affected areas. The construction-related nature of these activities attracts more male participation than females. To ensure women also have the skills needed for earthquake recovery, the ILO conducted a rapid assessment to understand their economic priorities. Women in the affected areas reported relying on hand-weaving for income and further expressed interest in gaining sewing and textile production skills linked to broader markets, as well as basic computer literacy to improve future employment opportunities.

Yutong Liu, ILO Liaison Officer for Myanmar, highlighted the importance of the Employment Intensive Initiative on Skill Development, Livelihoods and Decent Work Agenda in Myanmar.

"The ILO quickly launched an early recovery project in August 2025 in response to the earthquake. By promoting labour intensive work, infrastructure rehabilitation, vocational training, social dialogue and social protection at community and grassroots level in earthquake affected areas in Myanmar, we have strengthened capacities that save lives, protect livelihoods, promote decent work and enable recovery in the aftermath of earthquakes," he said.