Myanmar Monitor
The labour situation in Myanmar is changing rapidly. Recent labour law reforms have led to the first legal formation of labour unions in decades. Workers, Unions and labour activists are now struggling to achieve fair wages, basic labour rights and a representative trade union movement. To provide informed assistance and solidarity to workers in Myanmar, Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA and the wider Australian union movement need to have a better understanding of what is happening on the ground in relation to labour issues. The challenge is that coverage of labour developments and news in Myanmar in English is irregular and not necessarily consistent. Local news outlets publish articles on labour issues, but they only provide snapshots and don’t often provide follow up.
As a result, Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA is excited to announce the launch of a new project in Myanmar, the Myanmar Monitor (Labour Reporter Project). This project will support a local labour journalist on the ground in Myanmar to provide on-going analysis of current labour developments, events, incidents and trends in the English language. Htet Htet, local Mandalay Labour Reporter who has trained under Australian journalist, Phil Thornton, has taken on this role and we look forward to working with him over the coming months.
Sacked caddies in Mandalay seek re-employment, back pay
Unemployed golf caddies and their families – many of whom are now living in refugee-like conditions – are protesting their sacking by Shwe Man Taung Golf Club in Mandalay, Myanmar.
read moreMigrant workers in Thailand under the new decree
Union Aid Abroad APHEDA’s Myanmar Labour Reporter, Htet Htet, reports on the impact of Thailand’s new decree and how it affects migrant workers from Myanmar.
read moreBurmese maid – Ma Zin Mar Oo – jumps to death in Singapore
25-year-old domestic worker, Zin Mar Oo, took her own life by jumping from a high-rise apartment in Singapore on the evening of June 12.
read moreMining company favours non-locals
By Htet Htet | MANDALAY Although Myanmar Wanbao Mining company has promised to provide employment for residents of Let-Pa-Daung region, these positions are mostly blue-collar jobs. A Let-Pa-Daung investigation led by Aung San Su Kyi directed Wanbao Mining to provide...
read moreMyanmar Water Festival holiday reduced from ten days to five – unions outraged!
BREAKING NEWS: 650 workers have been sacked for taking strike action over the public holiday dispute. More here A number of Labour organisations from Myanmar’s Yangon Division have appealed to the Ministry of Labour stating that they can’t possibly agree with the...
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