Workers at the Myanmar Ju Chuan shoe factory in Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone, Hlaing Tharyar Township, are protesting for a daily wage increase to 13,000 kyats. The factory management has threatened to arrest and take legal action against the protesting workers. Since June 9, workers have been collectively demanding the wage increase, but the factory has stated they can only increase the daily wage to 10,500 kyats. The management has threatened legal action against workers who continue to protest without accepting their offered amount.
Workers had been requesting wage increases since May, but the factory only negotiated with their hand-picked worker representatives and announced that workers would receive 9,000 kyats per day. Although workers were dissatisfied with this amount, they initially did not protest for fear of losing their salaries. However, the situation escalated when the factory began increasing overtime work requirements, making workers work until 10 PM, only providing a single piece of bread during overtime shifts, and pressuring workers to work until 1:30 AM. These conditions ultimately led workers to decide to protest.
While the factory paid overtime wages, they only provided a single piece of bread instead of proper meals during overtime shifts, leading workers to file complaints with the Labor Office. Although this caused the factory to stop demanding overtime work, they continued to suppress wages, prompting workers to begin protesting after receiving their May salaries. The factory initially offered 10,500 kyats as daily wage, 500 kyats for overtime snacks, and 500 kyats for meals, totaling 11,500 kyats, and forced workers to sign acceptance of these terms. Later, they withdrew the overtime snack allowance and only maintained the meal allowance.
The protests continue as no agreement has been reached between employers and workers regarding wages. While workers are demanding a daily wage of 13,000 kyats, the factory maintains they can only pay 10,500 kyats. Despite the factory’s threats of arrest for continued protests, workers have stated they will continue their demonstrations until their demands are met. The ongoing dispute highlights the challenges faced by factory workers in Myanmar as they struggle for fair wages and better working conditions, with management using threats and coercion to suppress worker demands for improved compensation.
