No Breakthrough in Strike Talks

Workers at the Chinese-owned Tai Yi Slipper factory in Rangoon's Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone (3) said that they have yet to reach an agreement with their employers, despite talks on Monday that included senior government labor officials.

Today's talks, which come a week after workers at the Tai Yi factory went on strike to demand wages deducted for an unofficial holiday to mark the Chinese New Year, were the first since the labor unrest began.

The talks brought together 38 workers' representatives, the owner of the factory and three senior labor officials, including Chit Sein, the director general of the Department of Labor. 

As the three sides met, some 1,800 workers continued their strike outside the factory.

Phoe Phyu, a lawyer who is acting as a consultant for the workers, told The Irrawaddy on Monday that no agreement was reached, and that there were no plans for further negotiations.

The workers have made 17 key demands, including an hourly pay raise from 75 kyat to 150 kyat (US $0.09-$0.18) and an increase in the monthly bonus from 6,000 kyat ($7.50) to 8,000 kyat ($10.00).

The employer has only agreed to pay 85 kyat ($0.11) per hour and 7,000 kyat ($8.75) for bonus pay.

“Those wages are not enough to cover living expenses, so the workers could not accept them,” said Phoe Phyu.

Most of the workers are young women who say they struggle to live on the wages they receive. One said that their peaceful strike would continue until the factory meets their demands.

This is not the first time that workers at the Tai Yi factory have gone on strike to demand higher wages. A strike last year lasted three days.

According to one leading worker, Chit Shein took part in talks on that occasion as well, interceding on behalf of the workers. This time, however, he didn't do anything, the worker said.

“Last year, U Chit Shein got involved in solving the problem on the first day, but this time he waited a week,” he added.

Meanwhile, workers at the New Way factory who also went on strike last week have reached an agreement with their employer and have gone back to work.