By Hsu Latt Phyu - Jan 19, 2024

The workers of Sewell Garment Myanmar factory which locates in Ngwe Pinle Industrial Zone, hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon have demanded that the professional fees to be paid back at the rate they were previously paid.

Currently, garment workers work from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm and receive 4,800 kyats per day, 1,200 kyats per hour overtime, and 1,000 kyats allowance and ticket fees and the workers are requesting to give the expert fees as before as they are not able to make a living.

‘The price is not set for the ticket price. The seamstress would know the price if it is labeled. I want to be get paid the grade bonus as before. It have been 3 years since it was changed. At first, we e=only earned 170,000 mmk including 2 hours of overtime. So, we have difficulties to survive. The dormitory fee is 60,000 mmk per month so how do we eat. We are struggling although we are working,” said the worker.

The worker said that it has been almost 3 years since the previously professional fee was changed to a ticket fee, and it is only received after meeting the targets requested by the employer, so the worker said that they are having a hard time due to the excessive demand for the standard.

‘We got paid 55,000 kyats for A2+,   45000 kyats for A+, 35000 kyats for A, 25000 kyats for B+ and 15000 kyats for C. But it changed to the ticket system without the workers agreement. The ticket fees are not labeled. The targets are the impossible amount for the workers and as we get paid only as much as the employer wants to give, we only earn 10,000 kyats of fabric fee after working a whole month. It is not convenient with nowadays commodity prices. We just want back the old rate,” said the worker. 

The worker said that they want the employer to resolve as they are having difficulties going to take the remaining percent at the social security office if they take a social security leave within the workplace as they are only entitled to the 40 percent which have to be given by the employer.

The workers said that they want to appeal to set the professional fees as before, to demand only the possible amount, the foreigners and interpreters not to commend them directly, to provide the access of social security benefits and the cold-heat balanced workplace.

There was no trade union in the workplace, but the WCC was formed at the discretion of the employer.

There are more htan 500 workers working in the Chinese national owned factory manufacturing and exporting Japanese YAMADATATSU ORRIGINAL brands.