Hunger strike ends at Hmawbi steel factory

WORKERS from Yangon Crown Steelworks in Myaungdakar Industrial Zone ended their hunger strike last week when owners acceded to demands for improved basic pay and other conditions.

The hunger strike ended on the afternoon of May 29, after four days, when representatives for the workers met with the factory’s Chinese owner, who pledged to do as much as he could to meet their needs, said Ko Zaw Htet, secretary of the factory’s workers’ union.

“We met our boss on May 29. Government officials also participated. The owner said that he didn’t know about the current problems at the factory but he promised to meet their needs as much as he can. We stopped our strike because we directly met the owner and get the agreement from him,” said Ko Zaw Htet.

Workers at Yangon Crown get basic pay of K4800 a month as well as K80 an hour overtime and K5000 for regular attendance.

However, the regular attendance fee is cut if employees take a single day leave, even when they are ill. Their basic pay is also cut if they are absent five days in a month, making it extremely difficult to provide for their family.

The workers’ union requested to raise the basic pay and bonuses and reduce the penalties for being absent.

Workers went on strike on May 20 after officials didn’t respond. When negotiations broke down on May 25, a group of workers went on a hunger strike. – Translated by Thiri Min Htun