Yangon (dpa) – Myanmar on Wednesday announced it would nearly double the wages of its lower-level civil servants in response to allow for the rising cost of living. The daily wage for general government workers will be increased from 2,100 kyats (2.60 dollars) to 3,100 kyat (3.80 dollars) from April 1, the beginning of Myanmar's fiscal year, the Finance Ministry announced on state television. All civil servants and military personnel will also receive a monthly allowance of 30,000 kyats (37 dollars) to help them cope with inflation, the broadcast said. April 1 is also the date of a by-election to fill 48 seats left vacant when their occupants resigned to take up their positions as cabinet ministers in March last year. The by-election is to pit opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party against the Union Solidarity and Development Party, which leads the current pro-military government. Another 15 parties have also entered the race. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/irDCi Tags: Civil Servants, Myanmar, Salary Section: Business, East Asia
