By Hsu Latt Phyu - Aug 31, 2024

The workers from Myanmar Pou Chen factory which locates at the Thardukan Industrial Zone, Shwe Pyi Thar Township who will enter the distance education exam are having difficulties as they are not allowed to take 2 months leave to study anymore like previous years.  

The factory announced on August 29, 2024 said that they will give only two weeks leave for workers who will study for distance education and the workers who applied to distance educations are called and informed that they will get only 1 month leave including 2 weeks leave and legal leave by the leaders by the production lines on August 30, 2024. They are also informed to resign if 1 month of leave is not enough and they will be reappointed as new workers after they came back. 

The workers are having concerns if they are not reappointed after the exam. The workers said that the HR department said that workers who finished high school will be allowed to purchase further education. 

The distant education workers are request for assistance from the Workplace Coordination Committee but the WCC team handed the case to SD department. 

The distant education workers went to the SD department at 4:00 a.m. August 30, 2024 to ask for negotiations and the department said that they will informed back on August 31, 2024.

There are more than 200 workers in the factory who will enter the distance education exam and they have to go in two groups one after another. The workers from Planning and QIP department know about the case in advanced and learnt that they have to submit BPMS and they get 2 months leave after they applied for.

It is reported that the factory has discriminations in giving the workers leaves. The factory is monitoring the trade union which stands for the workers and workers don’t even dare to talk to them due to discriminations. 

Some leaders were pressurized not to talk with the trade union leaders and they are scolded even if they talk about social and private issues. Workers are also pressurized to get more fabric outputs.

Distant student workers and other workers said that the workplace conditions is even worse than before as the Myamar Pou Chen factory didn’t give for wages in accordance with the commodity prices and revokes the study leaves although being a factory that manufactures worldwide famous Adidas Brand.

There are many workers who finished bachelor degree by while working at the Myamar Pou Chen garment factory. A graduated worker said that the Myamar Pou Chen factory not only give employment but allow them to study to get graduated while working and wished that the factory could continue to give study leaves in the future and the factory to expend more.

Photo – Fire safety training at the Myamar Pou Chen factory