Myanmar: Workers at footwear factory go on hunger strike demanding wage increase
Summary
Date Reported: 27 Jul 2023
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Myanmar Sunny - Supplier , Hawkins - BuyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 1200
Workers: ( 1200 - Location unknown , Footwear , Gender not reported )Issues
Poverty Wages , Fair & Equal Wages , Harassment (other than sexual) , Gender DiscriminationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Myanmar Sunny allegedly supplies to Hawkins; Hawkins did not provide a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre.
Source type: News outlet
"Myanmar Sunny Shoes shoe factory continues [protest] for a full week", 27 June 2023
Hlaing Tharay (Eastern) Township, Industrial Zone (2); It is reported that the workers of the Myanmar Sunny Shoes shoe factory owned by a Japanese citizen on U Tun Nyo Road, Dang Thiwan, have not been settled for a full week since their demands have not been resolved.
"We haven't gotten a settlement yet... They have increased the fee by 5,600 [but we] haven't received the rest of the request. They still haven't agreed. There is still more to adjust," said the person assisting the workers...
The workers started asking for an increase in daily wages and other demands on June 20th.
The shoe factory started operating on June 14, 2000, and currently employs more than 1,200 workers...
A total of (900) workers have not [had their pay] been raised for more than 2 years, so they went on hunger strike and asked for an increase in wages, to replace the workers who resigned, to increase the annual salary, etc.
As a result, the workers' compensation was increased by 5,600 kyats, and the rest of the demands have not been received, so they are still demanding, according to the workers.
It is reported that Hawkins Premium brand and other brands of leather shoes are made and exported at the factory.
[Translation via Google Translate]