“Garment workers face dire consequences due to coup”, 15 September 2021

Ma Khin Thandar Moe is a female worker at SIOEN Myanmar garment factory in Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon Region. She is also a single mother who is bringing up her 17-year-old daughter. Her daily routine unexpectedly changed at 10 am on 24 August.

On that day, she was taken by junta forces in civilian dress from her workplace, accusing her of supporting comments on the Facebook posts of the interim National Unity Government.

“We could not see her since then and lost contact with her, although she is reportedly kept at a police station in Hlaing Tharyar Township. We sent some necessary items to her, but it was learnt that the supplies failed to reach her,” said her friend.

Ma Khin Thandar Moe was a member of the labour union at the factory, but she discontinued the activities after the military coup. Labour organizations energetically participated in protests against the coup. She is now charged with Section 505 (A) which is a law regarding the crime to publish or circulate any “statement, rumour or report” “with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, any officer, soldier, sailor or airman, in the Army, Navy or Air Force to mutiny or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty.”

The Section has been replaced with much broader language designed to penalize those encouraging members of the civil service or the security services to join the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Like her, some leaders of other labour organizations have fled, while some others were detained by the junta.

A woman from the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) has also been hidden from the junta forces since 5 February. Moreover, Daw Myo Myo Aye, a labour activist and the director from the Solidarity Trade Union of Myanmar (STUM) was arrested on 16 April…

A women worker from Unique HIT garment factory, which has been closed since mid-February, said, “Our factory was shut down over 6 months ago. I am still waiting for the resumption of the job there without going back to my region. I am afraid of security checks and armed clashes on the way back home. As I am a middle-aged woman, I cannot find other jobs easily. I have no income to pay for dormitory and meals.”

As the management of SIOEN Myanmar garment factory did not protect Ma Khin Thandar Moe from the arrest by the junta, the workers are worried about the crackdown on the labour union and possibly more arrests in the workplace said a worker.

“No one dares to stand and work for her as she was arrested for participating in political activities, although we worry about her conditions as we have no contact with her. We are just awaiting the day for her trial at court,” she added.

“No one dares to stand and work for her as she was arrested for participating in political activities, although we worry about her conditions as we have no contact with her. We are just awaiting the day for her trial at court,” she added.