Garment labourers told to end work stoppage
The Labour Tribunal Commission has ordered 158 workers, including Moe Moe Khing from the Costec garment factory in Shwe Pyi Tha Township, to resume work their respective factories within 30 days.
Workers from the Costec and Ford Glory garment factories staged demonstrations in January in front of the factories calling for a minimum wage increase, the formation of labour unions, an end to discrimination against workers and the full protection of labour rights.
The commission's decision also stipulated that if the workers do not resume work within the allotted time, they will effectively be resigning from their jobs and will not receive compensation.
The decision was passed down on May 7.
In the wake of the decision, many of the workers have pledged to resume their work.
“We, the workers from Ford Glory and Costec garment factories in Shwe Pyi Tha Industrial Zone, staged camp-in protests in front of the factories. In the case of the Costec garment factory, the Labour Tribunal Commission negotiated with the factory owner and local authorities. We will hold a meeting on Sunday, May 17, and we will resume our work on Monday and Tuesday. The commission also decided that the workers must return to their original positions. We will discuss the salary issue with factory officials on the first day of work,” said an unidentified worker from the Costec garment factory.
Those wishing to refute the commission’s decision can appeal within 7 days, starting from May 7.
The factories are owned by South Korean and Chinese national.
On March 4, the protesters marched at the junction of Danyin Kone and No 4 Main Road in Insein Township, where police cracked down on the protesters and detained eight male and six female workers. The detained workers were charged under Sections 18 and 147 of the penal code.
