By Myo Thein - Jun 05, 2025
#Letter
Dear Ko Gyi Kyaw...
Aren’t you writing anymore these days? I haven’t seen much of your writing lately.
I've also been busy persuading the factory owner to make the workplace less heat-stressed, so I haven’t had a chance to write to you.
There have been more protests in factories in Shwepyithar Township lately too, Ko Gyi Kyaw. But I’ve hardly seen any of the requested wage increases fully granted.
Maybe it’s because the factories in Shwepyithar don’t have as many workers as Tsang Yih, Ko Gyi Kyaw?
The current wage increases don’t actually amount to real livable wages. It would be better if both employers and workers could agree on a rate that works for both. Even though workers ask for 20,000 kyats, I don’t think that’s achievable. That’s just my personal opinion.
Something around 12,000 kyats would be reasonable. I really do hope they get it. Once daily wages go up, overtime pay will increase too, Ko Gyi Kyaw. What garment workers really hope for are fair daily wages, overtime, and attendance bonus.
Now, Ko Gyi Kyaw, I want to share something really important. It’s about a failure in our country’s mismanagement. As mentioned, garment workers generally only expect those three forms of pay. But actually, there’s another form of bonus that workers are entitled to.
Factories grant bonuses after finishing and shipping different orders. These are usually distributed among relevant workers.
But it’s not fairly done, Ko Gyi Kyaw.
The biggest bonus shares go to line supervisors and sub-supervisors. They get hundreds of thousands, while regular sewing workers or workers from other non-lead positions only get tens of thousands.
Even office staff in accounting don't know about the secret bonuses and wages given quietly to supervisors and overseers by the factory. That’s why these team leads never join when the workers demand or protest.
Besides the official pay, the factory also gives them hidden bonuses. The factory manager calls each supervisor into their office individually at the end of the month. They’re given extra wages apart from their normal pay. Separate bonuses too.
Why are these bonuses so much higher?
Let me share something told by a female worker, Ko Gyi Kyaw. That’s when I learned why supervisors get such big bonuses and wages.
Her supervisor made her work until 8 PM without overtime pay. Even drinking water outside costs 1,000 kyats a bottle now, so she couldn’t afford to keep working for free and gave notice that she was quitting after payday.
She said she’d be exploited without pay and was worried about the consequences if it continued long-term. That’s why she opened up to me, Ko Gyi Kyaw.
She is very reliable in the factory. You already know that supervisors and sub- supervisors don’t sew. That female worker was sewing five points all by herself.
I don’t want to mention how greedy these line leads are, but making someone work till 8 PM for free is just not right, Ko Gyi Kyaw...
Legally, overtime work must be voluntary and workers must be paid double the regular rate. Forcing workers without giving that is inhumane. I don’t even know what kind of mindset allows this.
Hearing this made me feel upset too.
It’s like we’re going back to a time of slavery, Ko Gyi Kyaw.
She asked me if I could talk to the manager and solve it for her, but said she’d rather quit than argue with the supervisor.
Upon checking, it turned out that though they listed only 10 workers for overtime, supervisors brought in an extra 5 or 10 without including them on the roster – making them work for free.
That’s not an accident. Supervisors did it on purpose. That way, the orders are completed faster, labour costs are reduced, and the supervisors earn huge bonuses. That’s what they’re thinking, Ko Gyi Kyaw. It’s really cruel.
The Chinese nationals and the factory manager surely know what these supervisors are doing. But they pretend not to.
Supervisors wants biggest bonuses. The unpaid overtime work gets counted toward production targets, which boosts their bonuses. So, they end up getting a lot.
There are also end-of-month bonuses. The supervisor gets 900,000 kyats if sewing line workers get 30,000 kyats– a 30-fold difference.
Even weekly bonuses are unfair. The supervisor gets 300,000 kyats if a sewing worker gets 10,000 kyats. Supervisors get three times more than sewing workers.
I never expected or imagined this – but now I’ve seen and heard it, I can’t keep quiet. That’s why I’m opening up to you now, Ko Gyi Kyaw.
Take care of your health, since many people are getting sick these days. Hope we meet again soon.
Sincerely,
Your Friend Ma Thu
