Around 300 workers from Hlyan Chans garment factory in U Shwe Oh Street, Hlinethaya Industrial Zone (2), went on strike on September 30 morning, making a 22-point demand including their dissatisfaction with no right to leave taking and holidays as prescribed by the law.

The workers demanded 22 points such as their right to enjoy holidays as per the law enacted in 1951, entitlements to the provisions in the 2012 social security law, expertise bonuses (K35,000 for grade A, K30,000 for grade B and K25,000 for grade C), a daily wage of K4,800 for daily-wage employees, overtime fees, ensuring that overtime is in accord with the law.

"They don't pay overtime fees regularly. We are not paid although we have to work overtime all night. We have no access to earned leave or casual leave. We were told not to come to work if we took about one or two days of casual leave. The supervisor told us to resign if we were to take earned leave. That is why we start our strike this morning making a 22-point demand. We will continue our protest until our demands are met," said factory worker Win Win Ei.

Some workers said that the factory had employed about 10 underage workers who have not turned 18.

"There are about 10 workers aged 14 or 15 at the factory. Under the law, if children under 18 are to work, they must given the time to pursue their education. They have to work about 10 hours a day. But they are not paid overtime fee regularly," Win Win Ei said.

Factory officials however have denied hiring of those children.

"The 22-point demand has reached me. The Chinese translator is translating it. Then it must be present to our boss. The boss has to decide. Our factory has no child workers," said factory HR manager Si Si Lwin.