Myanmar's new government has created job opportunities for 450,000 people during its one and a half year's tenure since taking office in March 2011, local media reported Friday.

Small and medium enterprises such as garment and footwear factories, which account for 90 percent of local and foreign investment, brought most job opportunities for the people, said the Flower News quoting USe Thein, Minister at the President's Office.

The government is giving priority to investors who invest in those projects that can create most job opportunities for the locals.

There are 14 million people at home and abroad unemployed, accounting for 23 percent of the overall population, said USe Thein who is also chairman of the Myanmar Investment Commission.

Meanwhile, a large number of Myanmar youth graduates of various nationalities from both urban and rural areas are working abroad, a debate in the parliament revealed.

The growing number of migrant workers is attributed to the lack of jobs and inadequacy of families, high cost of living, lack of health care guarantee, lack of workers rights and exploitation over salaries by employers and brokers, it was blamed.

The parliamentarians have proposed for adoption of a migration policy for ensuring social security of Myanmar migrant workers in any foreign country.

According to the Labor Department,there are 137 licensed overseas employment service agencies and 14 local's in Myanmar.

At present, Myanmar is practicing job contract system at home between employers and employees in accord with international standard.

In March, Myanmar's parliament approved the Labor Organization Law, which covers protecting employees' rights, setting up good relationship between employers and employees as well as forming labor associations systematically and freely.

The Labor Organization Law is said to have been enacted in accordance with the provision of International Labor Organization (ILO) and its recommendations.