By Hsu Latt Phyu - Jun 05, 2024
The Chinese national owned Popular Garment factory which located at Phan Chat Wun U Shwe Oo Street, Industrial Zone 2, Hlaing Thar Yar Township has been operating for more than 20 years, and in 2021, the factory opened another factory called Beaume International Garment under the same roof.
Currently, there are only more than 70 workers left in Popular Garment factory as more than 400 workers were resigned last month. 32 workers who demanded to be separated the workers and to clarify their seniority were dismissed. Among those 32 with more than 20 female workers, most of them are around 20 years old.
The worker said that now only 70 of the senior workers are left. The worker said that the factory only use Beaume International Garment label in recruiting for new employees.
“They said there is a change in owner but said its not again when we resolved. On May 20, Popular workers’ length of service since 2021 are added in the Beaume so we want them to clarify where did the past 20 years of service went,” said a worker.
They can’t answer our questions upon the lost services, so it is evident that the same factory has 2 owners, 2 factory names, and two WCC groups, and there has been no change in the employment agreement and the name of the applicant for the workshop operating.
On May 20, 2024, more than 70 Popular workers are layoff-ed on the grounds of not having sufficient orders and they were only given 4,800 kyats daily wages and 1,000 kyats stipend.
“On the day of the return to work, the workers were not allowed to enter the workplace and was resisted by security personnels, and they called the military by acting like workers were violating. It have been more than 4 times workers tried to resolve together with military, wardens and administration. It seems like they want to cancel the workers’ length of service at the Popular factory. We want this issue to be resolved. More workers are resigning, only 70 people left now,” said a worker who don’t want to be named.
It is also known that 885 workers protested to raise the daily wages to 5,600 kyats in June 2023. The factory is manufacturing NORTHLAND and Multiblu brand apparels.
