By Yoon Sat - Mar 11, 2025
Around 2,000 workers at the Myanmar GiGi Leather wallet factory, located on Pale Street in the Thardukan Industrial Zone, Shwe Pyi Thar Township, are protesting inside the factory, demanding a wage increase.
The factory is owned by a Chinese national and operates with approximately 2,000 workers, producing Litha wallets.
"They have been demanding a raise since yesterday. As of now, the issue has not been resolved. We have turned off lights in the production lines and are protesting. We are asking for a daily wage of 10,000 kyats, an attendance bonus of 40,000 kyats, and an overtime wage of 2,000 kyats per hour. However, the employer is offering only 8,800 kyats for the daily wage, 2,000 kyats for overtime, and refusing to provide the 40,000 kyats attendance bonus. We are rejecting this offer and continuing their protest. The surrounding factories have already increased wages, so we feel left behind and are protesting in response. We are manufacturing Litha wallets," said the workers.
Currently, workers receive a daily wage of 7,800 kyats, including allowances, an overtime wage of 1,700 kyats, and an attendance bonus of 20,000 kyats. Since other factories have raised wages, the workers at Myanmar GiGi Leather factory have submitted their demands to the employer through the WCC, requesting a daily wage of 10,000 kyats, an overtime wage of 2,000 kyats, and an attendance bonus of 40,000 kyats. However, the employer has been delaying the negotiations, stating that they are "still discussing." As a result, around 2,000 workers began their sit-in protest by shutting down the production lines inside the factory on March 10.
"This protest involves both sections of the factory, with all workers participating. Currently, workers receive a daily wage of 7,800 kyats, including allowances, an overtime wage of 1,700 kyats, and an attendance bonus of 20,000 kyats. The factory has also assigned unrelated tasks, such as cleaning chairs under the hot sun recently. Moreover, there is a lack of healthcare for pregnant workers, leading to frequent miscarriages. Additionally, there are no lockers to store personal belongings, resulting in frequent theft of phones and other items. There are three WCC representatives, but they keep saying they are negotiating with the employer, delaying the process without giving any updates. That is why we are protesting," said one of the workers.
The factory faced complaints of discrimination in the past. Furthermore, workers from the now-closed Mk factory were transferred to Myanmar GiGi Leather, raising concerns. The owner of Myanmar GiGi Leather is reportedly the same person who owned Mk factory, which was shut down citing a lack of orders. Many workers from Mk factory, who did not receive severance pay, are now employed at Myanmar GiGi Leather.
