Wig factory workers win big wage rise

Hi-Mo workers at the Labour Exchange Office in Mayangone township on May 9.
Pic: Yadanar

By Myat May Zin
Volume 32, No. 626
May 14 - 20, 2012
The Myanmar Times
WORKERS at a South Korean-owned wig factory in Hlaing Tharyar have secured a significant pay increase following a two-day strike.
More than 1000 employees from the Hi-Mo factory, which is owned by a company called High-Art, staged a sit-in protest at the Labour Exchange Office in Mayangone township on May 9 and 10, refusing to return to work until 78 grievances had been addressed. At 2pm on May 10, the factory owner acquiesced to their demands, a lawyer for the workers said.
The factory employs 18,000 workers and exports wigs to China, South Korea and Japan.
Workers were previously paid a basic salary of K8000 but with day rates, overtime and per piece bonuses received from K35,000 to K65,000 a month, depending on the experience of the worker.
Under the agreement signed last week with the factory owner they will now receive a basic salary of K30,000 a month, with a total salary of about K100,000. However, U Htay, the lawyer for the Hi-Mo workers, said it remained to be seen whether the company followed through with the terms of the settlement.
“They signed that they agreed to our demands but we have to look at their actions, whether they are true to their word,” U Htay said.
The successful strike comes about a week after 50 Hi-Mo staff had demonstrated at the Labour Exchange Office. In an effort to placate the workers, the owner boosted the salaries of about 100 people by K5000 a month on May 2.
When The Myanmar Times attended the strike at the Labour Exchange Centre on May 9, the workers were receiving support in the form of food and water from a number of groups, including Generation Wave and the Myanmar Young Generation Association.
“We asked them to go back to their apartments to take a break and relax but they are very excited and motivated to continue their demonstration. We have to stay with them if they will continue,” a spokesperson from Generation Wave told The Myanmar Times on May 10.