Myanmar’s “Eleven” reported on April 9 that the European Union announced that it would provide 5 million euros in emergency assistance to unemployed workers in Myanmar’s garment industry.
Affected by the new coronavirus epidemic, some workers in garment processing factories in Yangon and Ayeyarwady Provinces in Myanmar are facing unemployment. This assistance will directly subsidize these workers. For unemployed workers and their families in difficult times, the EU will release and implement specific measures as soon as possible.
According to information learned from Yangon Province on April 3, 29 industrial zones and Thilawa Special Economic Zone in Yangon Province are facing complete closure, The number of factories that have temporarily closed or laid off employees has reached 59, of which 31 have laid off employees and 21 have been temporarily or completely closed, involving 17,000 unemployed people. Two factories in Ayeyarwady Province have laid off employees and two have been completely closed. The main reasons for closures and layoffs are raw material shortages, cancellation of orders from foreign buyers, and other reasons.
Recently, some workers who were laid off and fired held demonstrations and petitions to demand compensation for their losses. Myanmar’s Ministry of Labor issued a document on April 3 prohibiting any gatherings during the epidemic prevention and control period. Although workers have the right to negotiate with business owners through worker representatives, mass demonstrations can easily lead to the spread of disease.
