By Hsu Latt Phyu - Sep 15, 2024

MYANMAR BAG factory workers tried to protest in the factory as the factory refuse to pay 1,000 kyats subsidy which is instructed by the SAC’s ministry.

The factory is located at No -, Depayin Wunhtauk U Myae Street, Industrial Zone 1, Hlaing Thar Yar Township and the workers are seeking to get paid the new subsidy. The factory is owned by a Chinese national and hires more than 1,000 workers but there is no trade union in the factory.

Workers are getting paid 4,800 kyats as a minimum wage by the law. The SAC announced to pay 1,000 kyats subsidy per day for civil and private workers in 2023 and instructed another subsidy in August 2024. So, workers are entitled to 2,000 kyats subsidy per day. Workers said that they protested in the evening on September 2, as the factory refused to pay the subsidies.

“They told us to stay outside if we don’t work on September 3. 5 workers are summoned by the labour office after protests. They said we can protest only if we submit certain documents and otherwise, we could be sued and force us to go back to work,” a worker said.

“The labour office said that they will negotiate with the employer on September 5 (Thursday). Actually, they threatened us instead of resolving the matter first. There is no trade union to submit the documents and we don’t know where to submit. It is violating our rights when they don’t educate on us with the protests but restrict us and threatened,” said a worker. 

Workers said that the employer refused to pay the new subsidy no matter how they protest. The factory doesn’t give legal leave assessments and workers are cut 5,800 kyats daily wages, 1,000 kyats subsidy, 20,000 kyats attendance bonus and the expert bonus proportionally.

A production line with around 50 workers is asked for more than 100 bags output per hour and the supervisors verbally abuse the workers if the outputs are not finished

The workers demands upon the violations are –

1.       To allow the legal leaves

2.     To eliminate the verbal abuse of the supervisors

3.      To ask for fair fabric output

4.     To pay the new 1,000 kyats subsidy

5.     To provide maintenance for the toilets