Thousands of garment workers demand measures to reduce labour disputes

Thousands of garment workers demand measures to reduce labour disputes
Garment factory workers stage protest in Pathein (Photo-Min Thu Win Htut)
Garment factory workers stage protest in Pathein (Photo-Min Thu Win Htut)
Published 9 September 2019
Nilar Soe (Pathein)

 

About ten thousand garment workers staged a protest in the town of Pathein, Ayeyawady Region, on September 8 calling for measures to reduce labour disputes between employees and employers and promote mechanism to seek solutions. 

The protest was staged by workers from eight garment factories—seven in Pathein and one in Kangyidauk—and their families. 

"There are five reasons why we stage our protest. The main reason is that they are suing our leaders without firm reasons. Eight leaders are facing lawsuits under the peaceful assembly and procession law," said Wai Phyo, a garment factory worker. 

The protestors chanted slogans such as improvement of social security, promotion of mechanism to seek solutions to the ongoing problems, the right to worker assembly to have their rights and for charges against their leaders to be dropped.

"I am sorry for the demands those workers are making. It is because their rights must be granted even if they do not make their demands. I think relevant departments should act in accord with the relevant laws," said Maung Maung Han, a labour representative from Ayeyawady Region labour arbitration team. 

The protesters marched from the place where protests usually happen to the city hall on Strand Road and  give talks there.