The Chinese owner of Myanmar Royal Apolo Garment Factory located in Shwepyitha Industrial Zone (2) in Yangon Region has run away without paying salaries to about 800 workers, according to local sources.
The factory workers said that the factory owner reportedly slipped away to Thailand on March 4.
“We only came to know on our pay day on March 5 that the boss had already run away. Officials from the township general administration office, the ward administrator’s office and labour organizations came to us. When we contacted the airport, we learnt that he left for Thailand on March 4,” said factory worker Aung Ko Htike.
The factory is said to have been rented and plans are being made to auction the machinery and other related equipment to pay the 800 workers.
The workers are facing difficulties such as their failure to pay for rented accommodation and meals.
“We had a lot of difficulty because we were not paid. Some have to pay for their rented accomodation on the 5th every month. So they daren’t go home. About 600 workers had to spend their nights in the factory compound,” Aung Ko Htike added.
