ILO launches emergency Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) initiative to support the earthquake recovery in Myanmar’s Inle Lake region

Southern Shan, Myanmar – The International Labour Organization (ILO), together with local partners, launch a rapid Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) initiative to support early recovery in earthquake-affected communities around Inle Lake in Southern Shan State. The initiative provides immediate income support to survivors while rehabilitating damaged homes and essential infrastructure.

Launched in the last week of May by ILO Liaison Officer Yutong Liu, together with Senior Advisor for Partnership Development and Resource Mobilization Oktavianto Pasaribu and other ILO officials, the programme currently engages 70 local workers in the villages of Tha Le U Inn, Kyar Taw and Zayat Gyi. Activities include the safe removal of debris, reuse of salvageable construction materials, and initial house repairs. These work aim to directly benefit approximately 500 inhabitants, many of whom have lost their homes and livelihoods in the aftermath of the March 2025 earthquakes.

“This is the most devastating disaster I’ve experienced in my lifetime,” saidU Kyar Aye, a 59-year-old resident of Zayat Gyi Village.  “Every house in our village was destroyed. In past floods or seasonal storms, we could always seek refuge at the monastery but even that has been severely damaged this time. We have nowhere to go and no idea how to begin again. The support from the ILO has been a lifeline. Thanks to the Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) initiative, we now have hope and the means to start rebuilding our homes and our lives.”

The Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) initiative is part of a broad ILO earthquake response strategy aimed at restoring livelihoods, improving resilience and promoting decent work through recovery efforts. It serves as a pilot for a larger programme in Nyaung Shwe Township, which aims to create up to 2,500 immediate decent jobs and skills development opportunities for community members heavily affected by the March 2025 earthquakes.

“The intervention will soon be scaled up in other affected areas to create as many as 500 decent jobs”, said Yutong Liu, ILO Liaison Officer for Myanmar. “Future works will also include the rehabilitation of 15 community infrastructure, including schools, health posts, rural roads, water points, and footpaths,” he added. 

The programme will be scaled up in the coming weeks to reach more areas in need. It aims to support around 500 poor households with income support through immediate employment opportunities generated by the project.”

To ensure safety and decent working conditions, the ILO has been providing training occupational safety and health standards for all participating workers. Technical support and local community coordination are being strengthened to support sustainable and inclusive recovery. 

ILO considers that recovery strategies will only reach their full potential if they are supported by concrete progress in implementing the recommendations of the ILO Commission of Inquiry in its 2023 report.