By Min Ni Kyaw - Dec 23, 2024

Over 250 workers from the Chinese-owned LITA Myanmar Co., Ltd. garment factory in Shwe Pyi Thar Industrial Zone have begun staging workplace protests over wage discrepancies, according to workers.

“We are demanding a standard wage of 8,800 kyats per day across the factory. For example, workers in the sewing line receive higher allowances than we do. Even within the same department, there are four or five different allowance categories. We just want fair and equal pay,” said one worker.

The factory, located in Industrial Zone 4, Shwe Pyi Thar Township, Yangon and employs over 900 workers. Workers claim that the factory management has denied the demand for 8,800 kyats for all workers, and has not provided any explanation for the differences in overtime pay rates.

“The protests started this morning, on December 23. HR told us that the factory won’t give 8,800 kyats to anyone. They said they only advertised that rate to attract workers, but no one actually gets it. However, we’ve noticed and confirmed that there are discrepancies in overtime pay. They haven’t explained this to us,” said a worker.

Currently, workers are making the following demands equal payment of 8,800 kyats in allowances for all workers, an increase of 30,000 kyats in attendance bonuses, an annual bonus starting at 10,000 kyats, acknowledging workers’ years of service, provision of earned leave as mandated by law, elimination of unrealistic production targets that workers cannot meet, to stop verbal abuse from supervisors when asking production targets and payment of medical allowances for workers who use health leave under the Social Security system.

LITA Myanmar Co., Ltd. manufacture fashion brands such as TSDESIGN, FORK & SPOON, GLACIER, Golden Bear, and BULTLE. Workers say the factory also handles certain orders from the Solar Mola Garment Factory from Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone.