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Article

30 Dec 2022

Author:
Myanmar Labour News

Myanmar: Workplace Coordination Committees formed since the coup in garment factories allegedly operate in collusion with employers to 'oppress' workers

See all tags Allegations

"After the military coup, the factory WCC groups have been formed to take the side of entrepreneurs if there is a dispute in the workshops", 30 December 2022

According to the workers, since the coup… the Workplace Coordination Committee (WCC), which has been formed more and more, has been formed according to the preferences of the businessmen, and in the process of disputes within the factory, they only stand on the side of the employer in almost every factory.

“WCCs are usually people from the employer's side. The super[visors and] clerks at the factory. If there is a problem in the factory, the worker tells the WCC. WCC tells the employer; If the employer does not accept it, the WCC will not accept it…Their solutions to the grievances of the workers are not good and they are not on the side of the workers…This is almost every factory," said one of the local workers...

...in practice, the WCC is formed at will by the employer, and the WCC operates at the will of the employer, and oppressed workers say that they are oppressing the workers.

"...This is what the employers have established to show their brand, and the Ministry of Labor also asked them to form the WCC...the Ministry of Labor is working on labor issues under the Military Council, and employers also show their brands…to get their orders," he said.

There are such phenomena in industrial zone businesses in Yangon Region, and the WCC (Labor Affairs Coordinating Committee) and the employers' representative managers, super[visors], clerks, etc., who are often involved in the WCC, are forced to call workers [to work] overtime. In addition to asking for exorbitant records [they are] being forced to swear, physical beatings are [also] reported to be taking place in the workplace.

Since last October, at the Saung Oo Shwe Nay Garment Factory in Hlaing Thayar Township, Yangon Province, where...H&M has been sewing, the manager [and] super[visors]…have been swearing rudely at the workers every day. In addition to scolding, the former super[visor] from line number (28) physically beat the worker until the worker's shirt was ripped off, so the worker who was beaten went to the WCC established by the employer to complain, but there was no solution.

In addition, [in] Yangon Region, Hlaing Tharay Township Industrial Zone (2), [m]ore than 700 workers are working at Myanmar Guotai Huasheng Glory Fashion Garment, which opened on U Ton Nyo Road and sews [for] the PRIMARK brand. WCC representatives and employers oppressed the workers in the workplace, [with] shouting from super[visors]. Last September, I made a request because I was facing difficulties in getting benefits under the labor law, such as casual leave and medical leave.

[Translation via Google Translate]

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