Spring Moon garment workers' demands for wage and leave increases remain unresolved

YT, 001 (August 2) Mizzima. The negotiations for wage and leave increases by workers at the Spring Moon Garment Manufacturing Co-Ltd garment factory in Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon Region, have not yet been successful, according to the Solidarity of Trade Union Myanmar. The garment factory, owned by Chinese nationals, is located on Wat Mat Sote Won Htaw Road in Industrial Zone 4. It operates under the CMP system with over 200 workers and primarily manufactures garments for Italian brands as well as prominent Japanese brands like SUIRAN and Makku. On July 8, 177 workers from the factory began demanding nine points, including wage increases and expanded leave benefits. The employer agreed to the demands, and the workers returned to work on July 24. At that time, the employer's proposals included returning to work after a three-day suspension, proposing a new standard model, and offering a support payment of K50,000 per person for the 17-day demand period. Subsequently, further negotiations were held. On July 30, at a meeting at the Yangon Region Department of Labour Administration Office between the regional coordination committee, employer representatives, and worker representatives, no agreement was reached. Consequently, on July 31, 134 workers reiterated their demands. Therefore, yesterday (August 1), another meeting was held at the Yangon Region Department of Labour Administration Office, but no agreement was reached on any of the workers' demands. Another meeting is scheduled for August 3. "Today's discussion did not go well. We have rescheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. The workers have stated they will not stop their demands. The employer has only offered a 1,000 kyat increase, and further negotiations have stalled," said a representative from Solidarity of Trade Union Myanmar. "The foreign (Chinese) owner is not present at the factory. Negotiations through intermediaries have not been successful. They say they will continue their demands without stopping." When asked if the 134 workers from Spring Moon Garment factory would continue their demands without stopping, the representative confirmed, "Yes. The 134 workers from Spring Moon Garment factory will not go to work. They are continuing their demands." STUM also reported that employer and worker representatives are scheduled to meet again for negotiations at the regional Department of Labour Administration Office tomorrow (August 3). "There is unlikely to be any breakthrough. This is because they are only negotiating piece-rate payments for garments and not increasing wages. The workers do not want to negotiate piece-rate payments because most of the benefits go to the operators, and other sections do not receive them. Since their demands have come from all sections, they have decided to return to work only after their wages are increased," a responsible person from STUM told Mizzima. The responsible person also mentioned that the factory owner is expected to visit Myanmar on or after August 10, and therefore, negotiations are likely to be resolved after that date. During the negotiation period, the workers have stated that they will continue to press for their original demands. Editor – Thant Zaw (Thanlyin)