By Hsu Latt Phyu - May 17, 2024
Dishang Fashion workers stopped the work to demanded a raise to 7,000 kyats in daily wages and to raise the overtime fees and attendance bonus as well due to the rising commodity prices which is difficult for them to cover their expenses.
The factory is located at Min Gyi Mahar Khaung Street, Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township and operating with more than 1,000 workers. Currently 95 percent of the workers participated in the collective demand and the works are suspended in the cutting and finishing departments.
The factory paid 4,800 kyats daily wages, 1,000 kyats daily allowance, 1,000 kyats stipend, 14,000 kyats attendance bonus and annual bonus 5,000 kyats for workers who are above 6 months of service and 25,000 kyats for those who are above a year and the expert fees are paid 400 kyats for A4, 700 kyats for A3, 900 kyats for A2 and 1,200 kyats for A1 level daily.
The workers are demanding to raise to 7,000 kyats in daily wages, 1,700 kyats per hour overtime, 30,000 kyats attendance bonus and the annual bonus.
“We want to cover the expenses. Currently we are in debts as we can’t cover the dorm and commodity costs. There is an interest rate in taking debt so the debt even increase more. There are many people who escape from the debt. Currently we got paid more than 300,000 kyats but we have more than 300,000 kyats debts as well. Even if we can pay the previous debt, we have to loan another and the cycle repeats,” the worker said.
The workers are spending more than 70,000 kyats to more than 1 lakhs for dormitory and they can’t afford for the electricity, gas and basic foods.
They are having to work around 11 hours per day, more than 80 hours of overtime per month and get paid only 350,000 only when they don’t miss a single day of work but that even cause them to fell in the debt.
The worker started to demanded since May 13 and they stilled continued to work at first since the officials said that they will negotiate but two departments stopped working on May 17, as their demands are not granted.
“Workers are ready to negotiate at the departments. Other factories are raising the daily wages to 7,500-8,000 kyats. The commodity price will raise even more and make the workers more difficult,” the worker said.
There is no trade union in the factory but the workplace coordination committee is participating in the collective demand.
The factory is owned by a Chinese national and manufacturing ONLY brand apparels.
