A finished marble statue of a Buddha is left near Irrawaddy River to be transported by boat to a buyer, in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Pieces of marble are sequenced with number markings to be used to build a large statue of a Buddha, on a roadside in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Marble carvers who work for Kyi Khaing, carve statues at a workshop in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Marble dust covers the surface of a Buddhist altar at Mya Lay's house in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Marble carvers carve statues at a workshop in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

A woman who works at a marble mine is driven home after finishing work for the day at a marble mine site in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Workers at a marble site move extracted marble stones from a marble mine in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

A marble mine is pictured in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, October 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

A woman, whose daughter Mya Lay used to work at a marble mine but lost her job, sits by an open fire with other family members at their home in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Children play with pieces of marble at a marble carving workshop in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, October 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

A marble statue of a Buddha is left near the Irrawaddy River to be transported to a buyer in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, October 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

A worker polishes a Buddhist statue made of marble at a workshop in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, October 11, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

A marble carver carves a statue at his workshop in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 13, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

A group of people walk past an unfinished marble statue of a Buddha in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

A worker, who's face was covered with marble dust as he carved a statue, poses for a photograph at his carving workshop in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, October 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Workers at a marble site move pieces of extracted marble from a marble mine in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Kyawt Kyawt Lwin, 7, whose mother Mya Lay used to work at a marble mine but lost her job, reads her homework book at their home in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Mya Lay (R), 25, and her colleagues, who used to work at a marble mine but lost their jobs, pick leftover peanuts at a farm where they now work in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 15, 2019. "I was born in this village and for generations this is what we have done: the men work on marble carving and the women work in the marble mines or polish the marble statues," said Lay. REUTERS/Ann Wang

A woman who works at a marble mine poses for a photograph at a marble site in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Marble statues that were made in Sagyin, are displayed for sale in a shop at the village, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 16, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Marble carvers carve a statue of a Buddha in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, October 11, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Marble statues of Buddha's are placed near Irrwarddy river, to be transported by boat to buyers, in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

A man sits on a piece of marble as he bathes near a marble site in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

A marble carver makes measurements of a piece of marble as he carves a Buddhist statue at a marble carving workshop in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Women who work at a marble workshop, polish marble statues in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, October 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

A worker leans on a marble statue of a Buddha as he rests at a marble site where he works, in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Mya Lay, 25, and one of her colleagues, both of whom work at a marble mine, pose for a photo at the marble mine where they work in Sagyin, Mandalay, Myanmar, October 19, 2019. "I was born in this village and for generations this is what we have done: the men work on marble carving and the women work in the marble mines or polish the marble statues," said Lay. For years, she has walked down from the mines from morning till sunset carrying large marble slabs on her head, laborious work for about $3.50 per day. "If I could I would leave the village and find a job in the city," she said, adding that she wanted a better life for her daughter. REUTERS/Ann Wang