Myanmar: Garment workers from Sagaing Division & Magway Division reportedly dismissed 'without valid reasons'
Summary
Date Reported: 3 Aug 2022
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Green Wings International - SupplierAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Workers: ( Number unknown - Myanmar , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Business-military collusion , DismissalResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 3 Aug 2022
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Myanmar Lucky Fortune Garment - Supplier , Inditex - Former buyer , Pull & Bear (part of Inditex) - Former buyer , Zara (part of Inditex) - Buyer , ONLY (part of Bestseller) - Reported buyer , LPP Spółka Akcyjna - Buyer , Bestseller - Reported buyer , Stradivarius (part of Inditex) - Former buyer , Workman - Buyer , Sinsay (part of LPP S.A.) - BuyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 4
Workers: ( 4 - Myanmar , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Business-military collusion , DismissalResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Myanmar Lucky Fortune garment factory allegedly supplies to Inditex for its ZARA, Pull&Bear and Stradivarius brand, BESTSELLER for its ONLY brand and LPP S.A. for its Sinsay brand; Inditex and LPP S.A. brands provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. BESTSELLER has previously stated it does not source from the factory. In September 2024, Workman provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. In September 2024, Inditex informed us that it no longer sources from Myanmar.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 3 Aug 2022
Location: Myanmar
Companies
China Morning (Myanmar) - SupplierAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Workers: ( Number unknown - Myanmar , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Business-military collusion , DismissalResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 3 Aug 2022
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Myanmar Bestex Garment - Supplier , LPP Spółka Akcyjna - Buyer , OVS SpA - Former buyer , Mohito (part of LPP S.A.) - Buyer , Sinsay (part of LPP S.A.) - Buyer , RBX Active - BuyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 800
Workers: ( 800 - Myanmar , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Dismissal , Business-military collusionResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Myanmar Bestex Garment allegedly supplies to LPP S.A (for its Mohito and Sinsay brands), OVS SpA and RBX Active; LPP S.A and OVS SpA provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. RBX Brand did not. In September 2024, OVS SpA informed us it stopped sourcing from the factory after the production of its fall-winter 2023 collection.
Source type: News outlet
"Sagaing Magway registration holders fired; Not hiring", 3 August 2022
[...]
In Sagaing Division 5/ and Magwe Division 8/, some of the registration holders are being fired without valid reasons.
A member of the central committee of the Myanmar Manufacturing and Industrial Workers' Federation (IWFM) said, "Myanmar Lucky Fortune Garment called and fired 4 people today. [They] are the people holding 5/ and 8/. When I asked what the reason was, the worker did not say anything about the reason…," he said.
All Myanmar Confederation of Trade Unions (CTUM); Deputy General Secretary Daw Phyo Sanda Soe also said, "We will pay 5/ until the 7th monthly salary is paid. A report came up saying that the Supervisors and All Super[visors] had said that they would be fired after the salary was paid. Even where the new [workers] can be accepted, 5/ and 8/ 9/ (Mandalay) are not accepted for work," he said.
These processes are [happening in] Hlaing Thayar, A source close to Moyam told The Irrawaddy that not only did it happen in the factories in Mingalandom and Shwe Pytha townships, but also in Moyam Shwe Lamin and Myatsukout, there were instructions to fire the workers holding 5/ and 8/…
A labor activist said, "Some supervisors have posted on their social media. Since Sagaing was the province that rebelled against the military council, 5/ I saw people saying on social media that they would not be able to get a job in my place at all during my time…they fired me without telling me the reason. They even went so far as to expel someone who was already there," he said.
The factories that have received complaints from labor organizations are Myanmar Bestex Garment from Hlaing Thayar Township. China Morning and Green Wings International Co.Ltd from Shwe Pytha Township. Myanmar Lucky Fortune Garment.
Green Wings International factory is not only 5/ and 8/ but also 2/ (Kayah) and 9/ Mandalay. Supervisors, including the boss, said that Nay Pyi Taw registration holders will have to return to their homes and cannot be compensated. According to labor groups, All Super[visors] held a meeting on August 1…
In the same way, when the Irrawaddy contacted the EMC factory, the Ti factory and the EMC in Mylangadom Township were informed that there were no such incidents.
An EMC factory official said, “We have a plan to reduce staff. But it's not…just for fun. [It’s] [p]eople with less experience..," he said.
A member of the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association told The Irrawaddy that investigations are still being conducted regarding the factories that said holders of 5/ and 8/ were fired, and no instructions have been issued.
He said, "We have not been instructed to do anything. If there is, this issue is not a small issue and we will know it. The issue of those factories is still not known for sure. Still under investigation. We haven't had any complaints yet. If the brand finds out about this issue, they will investigate and take action. If this case was really true...this factory wouldn't get an order at the right time," he said.
According to the Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM), information is being collected on the factories operating in this way and will be sent to the International Labor Organization (ILO) and international government organizations.
In addition, it is learned that the ward administrators no longer give permission to those who hold 5/ and 8/ to live in migrant workers' dormitories.
As Sagaing region is a powerful region in the revolution against the military dictatorship, the military council is attacking the migrant workers like this, according to Bol Naga, a revolutionary leader in Pulay Township.
Colonel Naga said, "I think it's because of the pressure of the current coup group...
[Translation via Google Translate]