By Yoon Sat - Mar 15, 2025
According to workers, factory owners have not fully complied although the military junta designated five public holidays, including the full moon day of Tabaung.
"Our factory didn’t even close on the full moon day. This is happening in Shwe Pyi Thar and Hlaing Thar Yar as well. Some factories, however, have negotiated with workers and are providing overtime pay," said a worker.
Workers were forced to work on March 13, the full moon day of Tabaung, which was supposed to be a public holiday at the Golden Storage Eagle (PVC Door Joy Fiber Glasses) factory, located in Industrial Zone 1, Dagon Myothit (South) Township, along Kyansitthar Road. Similarly, workers were only given a holiday on March 13, while they were forced to work on the remaining days without choice, at the Myanmar Jick Young syringe factory on Min Thedhti Kyawswar Road, Industrial Zone 2, Hlaing Thar Tar Township.
"There are factories where workers have no choice but to work. Some factories that granted a three-day break have designated half of Saturday as overtime," they said.
Although the full moon day of Tabaung and the other public holidays were officially declared by the government, most factories only closed from March 12 to March 14. Some factories designated Saturday, March 15, as a regular half-day with overtime pay, while Sunday, March 16, was classified as a full overtime workday. Other factories only granted March 13 as a holiday and required workers to work the remaining days without considering them as overtime. This resulted in financial losses for workers due to forced substitute workdays.
