“More than 800 workers did not work in the workplace to protest for a wage increase in line with the times”, 31 August 2022

Due to the increase in the price of goods, the current income from work is no longer enough, and more than 800 garment workers have been protesting in the workplace since August 29 to raise the wages…

The workers of Myanmar Luxury Group Company garment factory, which opened in Shwe Pytha Industrial Zone 1, Shwe Pedala Road, Yangon Region, are protesting in the workplace. It is reported that brands such as...STRADIVARIUS… are being sewn at the factory.

"We started asking for it on the 29th….The request is for a wage increase in line with the current price of goods. The reason why we are asking for a wage increase is because we are not comfortable with the current prices and wages. That is why we are asking for an increase. The factory side is saying that it is not convenient and [they] cannot give it…We are not asking for a basic salary increase, but we are only asking for an increase as a rare expense," said a protesting worker.

As a skilled worker, he currently receives 4,800 overtime fees, including 4,800 day wages, and a total of about 250,000 per month…

The workers also said that due to the difficulties they are currently facing, basic workers, including industrial zone workers, and their dependent family members are in a difficult situation.

In addition, there are day laborers in the workplace, and because they do not work on the weekend, they do not have any income, and because they do not receive professional fees and bonuses, they are facing a decrease in income, so they want to increase the wages received by the workers…

In August 2022, it was reported that workers were facing a series of violations at the factory, including child labour, and hired as daily labourers, who are paid 4,000 kyats for 10 ½ hour shifts, which is below the minimum wage of 4,800 kyats, and denied social security benefits and leave.

“…This wage and food are not convenient at all. Now, we have reduced it as much as possible. I don't eat snacks anymore. I'm worried that I won't be able to send [money] home, because there isn't enough here either…"Before, I used to cook meat 2 days a week. Now I can't eat meat anymore. Vegetables are expensive, so I have to mix 2 kinds of vegetables and cook some kind of soup," he continued.

[Translation via Google Translate]