Workers that were let go from the Dihuali Garment Factory in Hlinethaya Township have said they will open a protest camp in front of the factory to restore their jobs.

“We have yet to open our protest camp. We have to make systematic plans because of the Covid-19 outbreak. We, the leaders of workers, will open the camp. But we are still planning. The intention is to force the factory to give back our jobs,” Pan Nu Khaing, a fired factory worker. 

While the workers demanded pay they deserved, the factory paid compensation and fired over 700 workers citing the Covid-19 outbreak as the reason, she added. 

“Some of us are demanding our jobs back because we didn’t take the compensation,” she said. 

About 70 workers did not take the compensation. Thinking that there were lawlessly exploited and fired, these workers did not take the compensation. Instead, they are willing to go back to work, she commented. 

An assembly formed in protest in front of the factory on July 30 after the workers had been fired. 

Thein Min Tun, head of Hlinethaya Township Labour Department, said the factory cut half of the workforce due to its inability to operate well. 

The garment factory has been open for over one year and it had over 1,300 workers before over 700 were fired.