About 8,000 workers have become jobless after factories in the industrial zones of Hlinethaya Township, Yangon Region, closed or laid off workers, according to the township department of labour relations. 

So far, 12 factories have shut down with one seeing its owner run away. There were eight other factories that laid off their workers after paying compensation. 

“Talking about the list of factory closures, 11 have closed and another one did not pay compensation as its boss had run away. So the total is 12. Eight other factories laid-off workers. Workers from some factories have yet to receive compensation. As they are not satisfied, they are negotiating with township authorities. About 6000 or 8000 workers have become jobless,” said Thein Min Tun, a staff officer from the department. 

Following shortages of raw materials, some factories in Hlinethaya cannot give overtime work to their workers or appoint new employees. 

About three or four factories closed due to workers’ strike in December last year causing difficulty with orders. 

Some factories have informed authorities that they would close or lay off workers following the coronavirus outbreak that started in China’s city of Wuhan.