6:30 p.m. The workers came out of the factory door as its time to go back home with each holding three-tier lunch containers and boxes, boarded the ferry and returned to the nearby area. They were rushing towards the destination at the fastest speed, not even having a time to say goodbye to each other.
Before that, they used to talk to each other to relieve the fatigue of the day. Now, Ma Chaw, who was tired all day long, breathed a sigh of relief, clutching a small lunch box, and entered the road leading to the dormitory.
"Thanks god I am not the one." Ma Choo can now sigh. These days, the news of requisitioning in industrial townships is not something that workers want to hear. All the news we hear is nothing but anxiety for industrial workers like Ma Chaw, who are struggling for just to survive.
When they heard each other whispering about those news, Ma Choo began to worry. Hlaing Thar Yar, where she lives, used to be crowded 24 hours a day as it is a crowded area. Now she is even afraid of overtime. Some of the workers at the factory go back home at 6:30, and if they are among the chosen ones for overtime, they have to work until 8:30 at night. They are sent back to the nearest bus stop by a ferry.
"I can go back at 6:30. I got back to the dorm at 7:00. The factory my friend working even have to work until 8:00 or 9:00. Then they take us around in cars, so if they leave at 8:00, they’ll be back around 9:00," she said. More than 50 cities in Myanmar have been designated martial law zones by the military council and restricted by night curfews.
According to Ma Chaw’s knowledge, Hlaing Thar Yar Township's night curfew is known to be from 12:00 PM to 3:00 AM. But the alarm of ground conditions is conflicting. At 7:00 p.m., there are almost no people on the road. It is also difficult to find a shop as the shops and tea shops close early.
We knew that the curfew was from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. In the Tuy Chaung area, we were told by the wardens that we cannot go out at all at 9:00 p.m., and if we do, we will be arrested. I heard from the quarter administrator that as he refused to pay 20 people for the military. The military would randomly requisite the civilians without any inquiries, the wardens warned us.
In a situation where they have to struggle with fear for livelihood, the news of the requisitions has greatly increased their fear.
"My friend's son who was sitting at a tea shop met the patrol unitand they said “hey come here” and, they took him into the car. I also heard that a guy who is working at a shopping center at the top of BOC was also pulled over when he came back at 8 o’clock and there were no people on the street anymore," said worried Ma Chaw.
As far as I heard, there are people who heard boys being dragged into the vehicles and also the same for women too.
"I heard that the girls were also being dragged. I don't know where and which neighborhood it is. The political situation is not good. It is not stable right now. I am worried about going to work before dawn. Going before 6:30 in the morning and working more hours at night makes me feel insecure. Overtime is in like a mandatory situation, so the worry about livelihood and safety is the highest, but we have to do it for the sake of survival," she said.
Industrial zone workers are the majority of those who have to worry about going to and from work. Although they haven't personally experienced a requisition, the messages they have heard through and warnings from neighborhood administrators confirm the concern.
In this regard, they want the employers to reduce overtime. In densely populated urban areas, almost all shops close before 7 p.m., so they are having to worry without knowing what to expect.
By Hsu Latt Phyu - Nov 19, 2023
"The ferry doesn't deliver to the front of the address, but instead just to the bus stop. I have to worry about being dragged before I get off the bus or before I get back to the dorm. I want them to let us go back earlier," she said.
Ko Htoo Kyaw is a factory worker in Thar Dhu Kan Industrial Zone, Shwe Pyi Thar Township. The same with Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Shwe Pyi Thar also heard reports of requisitions and felt worried. He said, "Livelihood is not confident no matter how much overtime do we work. It is not as important as the risk of life."
Last day, a female factory worker was arrested by the Junta soldiers for being outside at 8:00 p.m.
"They grabbed the female factory worker and didn't put her in the car but took her to the district office. Questioning her if she know or not while working in a factory and have to give 3 lakhs to get her back," she said. At the factory Ko Htoo Kyaw is working, the concern is spreading among the workers as they have to return to work after 9:00 p.m.
"The workers were scared when they heard requisitions. When were interrogated, we were asked what we were doing and said, ``Don’t you understand. Marshall is expressed. We will drag you next time,''" he said of his experience. In addition, he said that he saw women workers being taken away in cars, and he did not know who and where.
"There are eyewitnesses, but the OTs called again, and the workers explained to the employer that they don’t dare. Now they called until 8 instead of 9, so it was reduced by one hour. The workers wanted to works from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m and wanted to be called for the next 2 hours. The employers don't want to let us go back early," he said.
"What we want to ask employers is that we are more afraid of these guys than our livelihood. We want them to reduce our OTs. We want to be called only for 2 hours normally. Employers are calling OTs much more these days," he said.
There are reports that a township must collect 30 people, and in Mawbe Township, factory workers have started returning to work early on their own accord.
"At 7:00 p.m., it has become almost empty. In some factories, the employers do not pay, and the workers go back to their own accord. Some do not want to work the 4:30 or 6:30 night shifts anymore. In situations where it is not possible to refuse, they are forced to work. Then, only day laborers are called. If there are 1,000, about 500 are day laborers," he explained the situation.
The industrial zone workers, who are facing concerns about livelihood and security, said they want their employers to take responsibility for calling in overtime.
"I want the employers to called for the zone committee or the heads of departments send an official notice so that we can have a guarantee. They are calling overtime without giving any guarantee or reporting to the labor office. If the workers complained, and the department came to check later, but nothing was heard and nothing happened," he said.
The workers would like to ask the employers to take responsibility for the safety of the workers and to let them go back early if the overtime is mandatory. Even if they want back at 7 o'clock, it is impossible to go to buy something to cook, he said.
Industrial zone workers, who barely make livelihood by working 8 hours a day and in addition with overtime, are torn between livelihood and life safety concerns. "Now life is more important than livelihood," he said.
Note: The names of the workers have been changed.
