Vertigo-inducing footage shows barefooted workers without any safety ropes balancing on bamboo scaffolding to re-paint a 155-ft tall monument in Myanmar.

The fearless builders used flimsy poles tied together with frayed string to climb the huge independence pillar in the centre of the capital Yangon.

They scampered to the top as white paint splashed on their feet - all without any harnesses, ropes, helmets or safety gear.

Astonishing footage captured by one of the decorators shows the dizzying view from the top of the statue, which was built in 1948 to mark independence from the British Empire.

The death-defying work is carried out for the equivalent of just a couple of dollars a day.

Local photographer, Okka, said: ''There's public concern about the safety of workers involved in this risky job. One can say safety measures are lax, but it has always been this way in Myanmar. Fortunately, there haven't been any accidents on the monument.''

Okka said it took 20 days to complete the painting process, using more than 400 bamboo poles for scaffolding.

He added: ''Workers say the initial work, setting up the scaffold, is the most difficult part of the entire job because of the shape of the pillar.''

The 155-foot-tall Independence Monument in the capital city's Maha Bandula Park was built in 1948. It was named after General Maha Bandula who fought against the British in the First Anglo-Burmese War from 1824 - 1826.

Burma later became known as Myanmar and the capital Rangoon was named Yangon in efforts to distance itself from its past as a British trading outpost.

Under Queen Victoria, the country was the second wealthiest in Southeast Asia but following its separation, it quickly spiralled into poverty and political chaos.

Health and safety for its workforce has still not improved and many labourers move to neighbouring Thailand for employment.