According to family members and close associates, the Military Council intends to initiate legal proceedings against the workers and those who aided them at the Hosheng Myanmar factory. The workers have alleged violations of their labour rights, and the trial is scheduled for 7th July.
"They have been detained and are set to appear in court in Shwepyithar on 7th July. I have been informed that the Hlawga police station is handling the case," he stated.
A reliable source close to the arrested individuals revealed that five workers have been charged under Section 505(a), while three individuals who assisted them have been charged under Section 17(1).
A labour activist also emphasized that the arrested workers were advocating for workplace rights, as these are essential labour issues.
It has been reported that "The workers are not making political demands. They are raising labour-related concerns. We need to question why this is being treated as a political matter. They (military) say they are striving for the establishment of a genuine democratic system. But with the way groups are surviving, it begs the question whether they are establishing a democratic system”
According to the labour activist, the workers are expressing concerns about workplace rights, labour exploitation, and the non-compliance of existing labour laws.
The activist further suggested that arresting workers in this manner could be seen as a way to shield employers who disregard the law.
A member of a labour organization stated that they are monitoring the situation, despite the factory's claim of providing assistance to the workers.
The labour activist mentioned that although the brand has pledged support to the workers, the process is progressing too slowly. He said, "The brand take responsibility, but their responses are extremely slow and this is why the workers were arrested. This incident reveals the military council's stance towards the workers."
It is known that the currently detained individuals will face a military court hearing, making legal assistance unlikely to be available.
Furthermore, two labour leaders from Sun Apparel, who are advocating for labour rights, have also been apprehended.
The Hosheng Myanmar garment factory, which manufactures brands such as ZARA and Inditex, is owned by Chinese nationals.
