Yangon Region Labour Relations Department under Ministry of Labour in Myanmar has planned to take action against a garment factory owner for failing to attend conciliation meetings aimed at resolving a labour dispute. Owner of the Htate Tan Myanmar garment factory, U Min Min has been alleged to be a regular absentee even for the township-level meetings.
Daw Lwin Lwin Myint, Deputy Director, Yangon Region Labour Relations Department said, “I think U Min Min is running away. He repeatedly failed to attend meetings about the dispute, so we have sued him under the labour law. We will sue every boss who disobeys the law or arbitrates rulings.”
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Earlier in November 2015, the imposition of ‘K3600’ – a minimum daily wage rule, by the Myanmar Government witnessed a wave of industrial action across the country. U Aung Win, Vice Chairman, Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association said, “Both labour and management should comply with labour laws and heed the council’s rulings in order to improve industrial relations.”
About 220 workers at the factory walked out in December last year, setting up a permanent camp outside the gates in support of their claim for unpaid wages. Earlier this month, Yangon arbitration council has ruled that the 10 days’ unpaid wages dating back to October and wages for the whole of the month of November should be paid by the factory owner.
