" Hong Tex Garment worker's original employment contract canceled and threatened to be arrested", 7 October 2023

The workers said that the Hong Tex General Factory cancelled the original seniority of the workers and rehired them with...new seniority as a justification for the registration. The workers said that the factory manager and officials now threatened them in a meeting held with all the workers in the factory...

"I see that the employer wants to reduce the number of permanent workers and make threats like this. In fact, there are cases where workers have to register and apply for work when they start working. Registration is expensive. It's not easy to do...," said a worker at the Hong Tex headquarters.

On...6th [October], the factory asked for a smart card to be registered, and the workers said that if they are not satisfied with the new registration... they can file a complaint.

"...The employer said that they would make a smart card, but since some older workers entered with fake registration, they will only be able to hire new seniors with the real registration," said a Hong Tex factory worker...

"...It was a threatening speech. A reduction in wages means a reduction in financial benefits for workers. If you start hiring new workers on a trial basis, it will hurt a lot for the old workers... Money is also deposited according to seniority. "Who will be responsible for the damages if they have to start receiving benefits from at least 6 months if they are new workers," a female labor activist questioned.

The workers said that it is a Chinese-owned factory located on U Po Hlaing Road...

The factory is sewing Jichodo brand clothes, and before the 2021 coup d'état, it operated with more than 1,200 workers, and the factory has been open for nearly 15 years, the workers said. The workers said that the factory is currently operating with more than 200 workers, including day laborers, because the factory reduced workers and quit after the coup.