Tagged: myanmar
Solidarity Wins – Conditions at Hang Kei factory improved!
☆ auf Deutsch ☆
A major victory was achieved at Hang Kei Myanmar Garment Factory Ltd following an internationally coordinated effort by grassroot labour unions.
Key data:
- Factory owned by Hang Kei Garment Co. Ltd with its head office in Hong Kong / a subsidiary company of Koon Ngai Garment Factory Ltd based in Hong Kong as well.
- The factory is located in the Yangon industrial area with more than 1000 workers.
- Products: lingerie
- Brands: Hunkemöller (Hunkemöller International B.V. based in Hilversum, Netherlands and Worcestershire, UK) | La Vie En Rose (owned by Boutique La Vie en Rose Inc. based in Montreal, Canada) | My Specials (belongs to Women’Secret based in Madrid, Spain)
For many months Hang Kei Myanmar Garment Factory has made negative headlines. At the beginning of April 2025 we received news of positive changes inside the factory.
Chronology of events:
March 8th (Day of Feminist Struggles): Internationally coordinated actions inside factories of Myanmar and outside shops of companies placing orders at those factories. Main theme “Menstrual products for all who need them!”.
Among others Hunkemöller was confronted with the demands put together by factory workers on the ground. The factory management of Hang Kei Myanmar Garment Factory Ltd was reached out to internationally as well.
March 17th: An audit team (from Hunkemöller), incl. doctors, visits the factory and also speaks to the workers.
April 7th: Factory management reacts and presents the changes applied following the six demands put forward by the workers. May Su Lwin works at Hang Kei factory in Yangon and reports about the recent changes:
May 8th: An audit team visits the factory again to check, if the changes are adopted correctly.
June 1st: May Su Lwin confirmed at an online meeting between FGWM and ICL Working Group Asia that the structural changes are still being maintained and the situation for the many workers has improved noticeably.
We do see the positive changes inside the factory and appreciate the efforts by Hunkemöller and the factory management. At the same time we emphasize that we keep monitoring the developments on the ground closely and are always ready to escalate the struggle again.
Menstrual products for all who need them!
Global solidarity is our weapon!
The following grassroot labour organisations were involved in this coordination:
☆ Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM)
☆ International Confederation of Labour (ICL-CIT) Working Group Asia
☆ Syndicates and individual members of the Free Workers’ Union (FAU) in various cities
contact: asia@icl-cit.org
Ein bedeutender Erfolg wurde in der Fabrik der Hang Kei Myanmar Garment Factory Ltd. erzielt, nachdem sich auf internationaler Ebene Basisgewerkschaften zusammengetan hatten.
Eckdaten:
- Fabrik im Besitz von Hang Kei Garment Co. Ltd mit Hauptsitz in Hongkong / eine Tochtergesellschaft von Koon Ngai Garment Factory Ltd, ebenfalls mit Sitz in Hongkong.
- Die Fabrik befindet sich im Industriegebiet von Yangon und beschäftigt mehr als 1000 Arbeiter*innen.
- Produkte: Dessous/ Unterwäsche
- Marken: Hunkemöller (Hunkemöller International B.V. mit Sitz in Hilversum, Niederlande, und Worcestershire, Großbritannien) | La Vie En Rose (im Besitz von Boutique La Vie en Rose Inc. mit Sitz in Montreal, Kanada) | My Specials (gehört zu Women’Secret mit Sitz in Madrid, Spanien)
Seit vielen Monaten sorgt die Bekleidungsfabrik Hang Kei Myanmar für negative Schlagzeilen. Anfang April 2025 erhielten wir jedoch Nachrichten über positive Veränderungen innerhalb der Fabrik.
Was ist passiert?
08. März (Feministischer Kampftag): International koordinierte Aktionen in Fabriken in Myanmar und vor Filialen von Unternehmen, die Aufträge an diese Fabriken vergeben. Schwerpunkt: „Menstruationsprodukte für alle, die sie brauchen!“.
Unter anderem wurde Hunkemöller mit den Forderungen konfrontiert, die von den Fabrikarbeiter*innen vor Ort zusammengetragen wurden. Auch an das Fabrikmanagement der Hang Kei Myanmar Garment Factory Ltd wurde international herangetreten.
17. März: Eine Prüfungskommission (von Hunkemöller), darunter auch Ärzt*innen, besucht die Fabrik und spricht mit den Arbeiter*innen.
07. April: Das Management der Fabrik reagiert und stellt die Änderungen vor, die sie aufgrund der sechs Forderungen der Belegschaft umsetzt. May Su Lwin arbeitet in der Hang Kei-Fabrik in Yangon und berichtet darüber, was konkret verändert wurde:
08. Mai: Die Prüfungskommission besucht die Fabrik erneut, um festzustellen, ob die Änderungen weiterhin bestand haben und vom Management umgesetzt werden.
01. Juni: May Su Lwin bestätigt beim Online-Treffen zwischen FGWM und ICL Arbeitsgruppe Asien, dass die strukturellen Veränderungen weiterhin aufrecht erhalten werden und sich die Situation für die vielen Arbeiter*innen merklich verbessert hat.
Wir nehmen die positiven Veränderungen in der Fabrik wahr und schätzen die Bemühungen von Hunkemöller sowie der Fabrikleitung. Gleichzeitig betonen wir, dass wir die Entwicklungen vor Ort weiterhin genau beobachten und jederzeit bereit sind, den Kampf erneut zu eskalieren.
Menstruationsprodukte für alle, die sie brauchen!
Globale Solidarität ist unsere Waffe!
Die folgenden Basisgewerkschaften waren an dieser Koordinierung beteiligt:
☆ Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM)
☆ International Confederation of Labour (ICL-CIT) Arbeitsgruppe Asien
☆ Syndikate und einzelne Mitglieder der Freien Arbeiter*innen-Union (FAU) in verschiedenen Städten
Kontakt: asia@icl-cit.org
Urgent Call: Support workers in Myanmar after earthquake! (crowdfunding)
For several years the working group Asia of the anarcho-syndicalist International Confederation of Labour (ICL-CIT) has been coordinating actions internationally to pressure brands and factory owners to improve working conditions. The last occasion was the Day of Feminist Struggles on March 8th 2025.
Most of you have probably heard of the massive earthquake that struck many parts of Myanmar killing thousands of people and destroying the homes for hundreds of thousands in the news at the end of March this year. Our friends of the FGWM are struggling to support each other and are calling for support from comrades worldwide. Therefore we initiated a crowdfunding and aim to collect 20 000 EUR:
- 10 000 EUR: Menstrual pads for 5 000 (factory) workers
- 10 000 EUR: Solidarity packages for 200 families severely affected by the earthquake
Workers on the ground organised with FGWM are involved in the coordination and decided that they need the following things inside the solidarity packages: 1 x power bank, 1 x mosquito net, as well as 1 x tarpaulin cover for roofing (15 yards). Each package is worth around 50 EUR.
The distribution of the menstrual pads as well as the solidarity packages will be organised by 12 comrades of FGWM.
Listen to Nilar, a comrade of FGWM nearby Mandalay, talking about the situation after the earthquake in March 2025:
Before the earthquake also this video was published to inform about the crowdfunding, back then focussing solely on the availability of menstrual pads.
So far close to 10 000 EUR have been collected (date: May 14th), therefore some support within the next two weeks is needed to still achieve the goal of 20 000 EUR.
There are two ways of contributing:
OPTION #2
by transfering contributions directly to the account of the Free Workers’ Union (FAU) Hamburg:
Account holder: AS FAU Hamburg
IBAN: DE43 4306 0967 2070 7898 00
BIC: GENODEM1GLS
Bank name: GLS Bank
Reference: FGWM solidarity
There are also leaflets available for download in English, German or Spanish as well as a poster design.
Turning solidarity into practice – Solidarity not charity!
This crowdfunding is being coordinated by the ICL Working Group Asia together with FGWM and the support of the comrades of FAU.
Questions or comments? Contact: asia@icl-cit.org
FGWM statement: 2 years after the military coup in Myanmar
Statement released by the Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM) to commemorate two years of military dictatorship following the coup in February 2021:
A Statement by the worker mass regarding the 2nd anniversary of 2021 Anti-junta Movements
Date : 5th February 2023
The Military junta forcibly seized power on 1st February 2021. In such miserable times, the public also experienced misleading information such as no public-protesting within 72 hours of the attempted coup. On 5th February, conscious workers of FGWM rose up against the Military Dictatorship. Over 12,000 workers and union leaders from 10 factories began the “Red Ribbon” campaign. On the next day, February 6th, workers and labour unions leaders marched through Insein Road and Parami Sein Gayhar Shopping Mall amidst all the risks and threats, protesting the coup and the military dictatorship. Students, People and Monks who joined the protesting workers will be remembered by our FGWM.
On this 6th February, it has been two years since the worker mass courageously rose up against the coup. As FGWM, we would like to declare to the public that we will vigorously continue our struggle until the fall of the dictatorship along with the workers.
With ultimate faith to the revolution,
Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM)
Myanmar: FoodPanda and GrabFood Riders on Strike
We received news of riders who went on strike in Myanmar following cuts in pay (fees) on March 16th.
UPDATES
March 23rd
The foodpanda company announced that it had reached an agreement with striking riders as the company settled to increase the delivery rate. At the same time half of the riders are still on strike. They keep fighting for the original rate. It seems that half of the riders resumed back their work with the basic rate of 580 MMK whereas their demand was to get 650 MMK which was paid to them before. (source: riders on the ground + myanmarlabournotes.com)
March 20th
Foodpanda Myanmar stated that the cuts were a technical error. Riders met with the company management, but negotiations were unsuccessful. Therefore the strike continues. (source: myanmarlabournews.com)
GrabFood riders said that they will continue the strike as well – until they get paid the previous rates! (source: myanmarlabournews.com)
The following information is based on reports by Myanmar Labour News (1, 2, 3, 4).
Foodpanda Myanmar
In the morning of March 16th foodpanda Myanmar began to cut rider fees without prior notification, though the contract between the riders and the company states that riders should be informed in advance. In reaction foodpanda riders logged out of their accounts and started a wildcat strike in the capital Yangon and rallied in front of the company headquarter in the city.
According to an involved rider they are now only paid 500-600 MMK (0,25 – 0,30€) for a distance for which they used to get 1000 MMK (0,50€).
Confronted with the protest the foodpanda office pointed the finger at other departments in the company saying it is not responsible.
There are many other problems. Each rider has to pay 85,000 MMK for a rider account. The company cuts off the orders or suspends the accounts, if riders make complaints. Foodpanda also recruits new riders without being able to provide already existing riders with orders. The primary aim of the company is to collect more money with the registration fees from new riders.
The company is accused of customer manipulation. Promoting itself with “free delivery” services, but then charging fees because of a “system error”.
Only a day before also riders in Mandalay went on strike in reaction to the cuts.
Foodpanda is the lead brand of Delivery Hero in Asia.
The Berlin-based company forecast full-year revenue in a range of 9.5 billion to 10.5 billion euros ($10.85 billion to $12 billion), and a negative margin on core profit of 1% to 1.2% for 2022.
source: nasdaq.com
GrabFood Myanmar
GrabFood riders in Yangon are on strike due to the sudden changes in payments. Now riders get 10 orders at most. As a result they don’t even bring home 10,000 MMK (5,07€) after a full day of work. Late night of March 14th the office suddenly informed the riders that rates will be changed the following day on.
A GrabFood rider stated that he gave up after two days of strike. According to him some riders are getting back to work since many of them struggle to survive. Nonetheless others manage to uphold the strike.
The new payment rates set by GrabFood Myanmar are the following:
| Distance | Rate |
| 0-1 km | 600 MMK (0,30€) |
| 1-2 km | 900 MMK (0,45€) |
| 3-4 km | 1200-1700 MMK (0,61 – 0,86€) |
| 20 km | 7600 MMK (3,86€) |
About 300 riders in more than four zones are currently on strike. Their main demand is to get the rate they were paid before.
Grab is Southeast Asia’s leading superapp based on GMV in 2020 in each of food deliveries, mobility and the e-wallets segment of financial services, according to Euromonitor. Grab operates across the deliveries, mobility and digital financial services sectors in over 400 cities in eight countries in the Southeast Asia region – Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. […]
source: grab.com
GMV for deliveries grew 63% YoY to hit an all-time high of $2.3 billion.
Currently riders are asked how they can be supported. Once we have an answer, you will find any call for solidarity on globalmayday.net.
#RidersUnited
Aufruf zur Internationalen Solidarität mit dem Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)
Der folgenden Aufruf wurde von den Basisgewerkschaften Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM) und All Burma Federation of Trade Unions (ABFTU) sowie dem Kollektiv Food Not Bombs Myanmar – mit Unterstützung der Arbeitsgruppe Asien der Internationalen Konföderation der Arbeiter*innen (IKA) – verfasst und eingereicht. Dieser kann auch hier als .pdf-Datei heruntergeladen werden.
Übersetzungen: Englisch | Spanisch
Aufruf zur internationalen Solidarität mit dem Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) in Myanmar
Liebe Genoss*innen von der Internationalen Konföderation der Arbeiter*innen, dem Global May Day Netzwerk und anderen emanzipatorischen Gruppen weltweit,
seit Anfang Februar gehen wir – zivile Basisgruppen und -organisationen in Myanmar – auf die Straße um gegen die Militärjunta zu kämpfen, die sich mit einem Putsch nach den Wahlen im vergangenen November wieder an die Spitze der Regierung gesetzt hat. Der Putsch hat massive Konsequenzen für uns: Unter anderem werden Freiheiten, die in den vergangenen Jahren und Jahrzehnten erkämpft worden waren, wieder zurück genommen. Von Anfang an haben wir in den Fabriken die Arbeiter*innen mobilisiert und maßgeblich die CDM Bewegung geprägt.
Wir kämpfen gegen die Militärregierung und ihr faschistisches Regime, für eine neue Verfassung und eine föderale Demokratie. Alle politischen Gefangenen müssen sofort frei gelassen werden!
Continue reading Call for International Solidarity with CDM in Myanmar
The following call was written by the Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM), All Burma Federation of Trade Unions (ABFTU) as well as Food not Bombs Myanmar – with the support of the Asia Working Group of the International Confederation of Labour (ICL). It can also be downloaded as a .pdf.
Translations: Deutsch | español
Call for International Solidarity
with Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) in Myanmar
Dear comrades with the International Confederation of Labour (ICL), the Global May Day network and other emancipatory groups worldwide!
Since February, we, grassroot organisations in Myanmar, have been taking to the streets to resist the military junta, which forced itself back into authoritarian power with a coup after elections in November last year.
The coup has severe consequences for us, among others resulting in a roll-back of liberties achieved in the past few years and decades.
From the start we have been mobilizing inside the factories and shaped the CDM across the country.
We fight for the abolition of the military leadership and its fascist regime as well as a new constitution implementing full federal democracy. All political prisoners must be released immediately!
Continue reading