The military coup in Myanmar, led by men, ousted female leader Aung San Suu Kyi & began collaborating with male management at factories to quash women-led workers' unions.
The garment industry is worth $6 billion nationally; women are 90% of its workforce.
vice.com/en/article/k7w…
"A majority of the factory managers are men", a trend seen across sweatshop / garment factories in Asia.
They prefer to employ women, paying them a pittance ($3.40 / day) for long working hours, and are known to sexually assault the female workers.
ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/…
Women garment workers have been at the forefront of protests against the military coup in Myanmar.
The sexual politics of the junta's takeover are impossible to miss: it occurred as the women's labor movement had begun to make gains.
"Fear of rape and robbery are common amongst garment workers, who work long shifts and have to travel during hours of darkness. Women also reported that they suffer from depression, largely as a result of long working hours and poor working conditions."
mmtimes.com/news/myanmars-…
The minimum wage in the garment sector in Myanmar is about $65 per month.
Union leaders and labour rights activists representing the country’s 90% female workforce have been central voices in the civil disobedience movement that emerged following the coup.
business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news…
In May, the junta sentenced 28 people to 20 years in prison for attacks on factories.
Some suspect the military instigated attacks on the factories to justify imposing martial law.
The fires broke out after five garment workers were killed by the military.
france24.com/en/live-news/2…
Since the army’s takeover, at least 1,300 protesters and bystanders have been killed, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) @aapp_burma
aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/2…
In 2011 a ban on labor unions was dropped; in 2012 collective bargaining was legalized.
Ma Moe Sandar Myint, of the Federation of Garment Workers:
"Eight or nine years ago, strikes were led by men. Employers decided to not hire male workers at high rates."
jacobinmag.com/2021/02/myanma…
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