State Counsellor chastises against factory owners to shut down factories and avoid mass gatherings at workplaces until COVID-19 inspections

Action will be taken against factory owners who have flouted a government order to shut down factories and avoid mass gatherings at workplaces until COVID-19 inspections have been carried out at their premises, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said on April 22.

Factories and workshops around the country will be allowed to reopen after the inspections have taken place between April 20 and 30, with those manufacturing essential goods such as pharmaceuticals and food to be given priority.

But few have heeded the government's order to close their operations for the period. During a teleconference with the State Counsellor, U Pyi Thit Nyunt Wai, chair of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar, reported that several garment factories in Yangon's Hmawbi and Hlaing Tharyar townships, including Shwe Nay Win, KHL, YJ, Myanmar Rock and Global and Universal were still open on April 22.

"Government officials will take action against these four factories in accordance with the law. The government does not issue statements and instructions for fun," the State Counsellor said.

She added that the inspections are required to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Myanmar. "If the virus spreads, it would be a burden for the country and a concern for daily wage workers," she said, adding that Singapore has seen a spike in the number of cases involving work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories.

COVID-19 infections in Singapore topped 10,000 on April 22, with 1,016 new cases - mostly from the dorms - reported during the one day alone. 

U Myo Aung, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, said inspections have been carried out at more than 90 factories in Yangon and Bago as at April 21. “We started on April 20 and completed inspections at 20 factories on the same day. We inspected a total of 65 factories in Yangon by yesterday, and nine factories in Bago Region,” he said.

A total of 341 factories in Yangon Region and 7 in Bago Region will be inspected on April 23.

The Ministry of Health and Sports has issued 18 criteria for workshops and factories to follow and inspections are being carried out based on whether the criteria are met, U Myo Aung said.

He added that those who fail first-time inspections will have to remained closed until a second inspection is conducted.

As a whole, most factories are complying with the regulations to close their factories for the inspection period, however, many are doing so without compensating their workers. In its instructions, the government did not specify whether the owners are required to pay their workers during the period in which they are obliged to close.

As a result, many factories are now struggling to manage a growing number of angry workers.  "Although we have fear and anxiety about COVID-19, we have to go work to earn our keep. We hear that we will be provided with 60 percent of our social security funds but we are concerned about whether we will still receive our minimum wage," said Ma Marlar, an employee at the Myan Yi garment factory in Hlaing Tharyar.

In some garment factories and workshops, protestors are blocking container trucks from leaving the premises with goods scheduled for export, resulting in losses for employers, said Daw Khine Khine Nwe, general secretary of the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA).

“We are now hearing that some investors are making preparations to halve the size of their businesses due to the current situation," Daw Khine Khine Nwe said, adding that the MGMA will help both employers and employees comply with the government order.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said: “The government, investors and workers need to cooperate for mutual benefit. If we want to have more investors and jobs, we need to create a friendly environment for them, but those doing business in Myanmar must bring benefits to the country as well. All this should be explained to the employers and workers and understood clearly." - Translated

 (The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/dassk-chastises-factory-owners-staying-open-despite-instructions-not.html)

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