The Ministry of Labour under the National Unity Government (NUG) warned businesses in Myanmar to value labour rights and norms as some factories in Yangon industrial zones are oppressing employees who demanded their rights peacefully.
In its statement, the labour ministry said that since the military takeover on 1 February 2021, the junta and the factory owners, who are influenced by the military dismissed leaders and members of labour unions, arrested workers and violated their labour rights.
The statement highlights three cases in industrial zones in Yangon.
In the first case, 400 workers at the Sun Apparel Myanmar owned by a Thai citizen in Industrial Zone (5) of Hlaingtharyar township, Yangon, peacefully gathered to demand an increase in their salaries, to enjoy benefits of off-days and to get hygienic drinking water and to accommodate a designated lunch area in the factory which is manufacturing JAKO band clothing.
However, the Military Council arrested two labour leaders in the workplace, and took them to the interrogation centre.
The second case happened at the Chinese citizen-owned Hosheng Myanmar garment factory which is manufacturing ZARA and Inditex brands clothing, on 10 June 2023. Seven labour leaders were dismissed as they asked to increase the daily wage of workers to K5,600 to meet rising commodity prices, and more than 600 workers were threatened by the military although they peacefully protested for labour rights. In this case, a dismissed labour leader who is the secretary of labour union and a head of labour were arrested while they came to township’s General Administration Office for negotiation with authorities.
The third case happened at Myanmar York garment factory owned by a Chinese citizen, manufacturing ZARA, Only, DIVIDED (H&M) brands in Industrial Zone (3) of Hlaingtharyar Township, Yangon. The workers there have to work extra time and are forced to do overtime. The workers have no welfare programmes and no rights for regular leave although they are forced to work for more production. Sometimes, female workers are harassed by the supervisors at the workplace, the statement alleges.
The statement of the labour ministry highlighted their government is working with International Labour Organization to take legal action against business owners and brands and buyers involved in labour rights violations which will be considered as committing crimes together with the Myanmar military that has been accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
According to the ITUC Global Rights index in 2022, Myanmar was included in the 10 worst countries for working people.
The ILO’s report in August 2022 said that an estimated 19.3 million women and men were employed in the first half of 2022, compared to an estimated 18.6 million in 2021 and 20.4 million in 2020, while job losses remain higher among women than men.
Meanwhile, labour productivity contracted by nearly 8 per cent in 2021 and a further 2 per cent in 2022, a reduction in the strong gains achieved in previous years prior to the military takeover.
The report also said that garment workers are facing a deterioration in working conditions, including reduced take-home pay, overtime and attendance bonuses as well as the increased use of casual or daily labour, and irregularity of working hours.
The 2022 Global Labour Rights Index compiled by the International Trade Union Confederation, which represents 200 million workers from all over the world, reported that the Myanmar junta brutally killed and arrested workers and trade unionists, accusing them of participating in protests and strikes. Their houses were raided and their belongings confiscated after the junta declared 16 labour organisations illegal on 2 March 2021.
