Workers protest at Yoma Central construction site to demand paid leave during the Myanmar Thingyan holiday (Songkran)
Update 1: Workers at the Yoma Central project gathered Tuesday at the entrance of the construction site in downtown Yangon to demand paid leave during the Thingyan holiday, despite the suspension of work amid the rising number of COVID-19 patients in the country.
U Than Naing Oo, a Yangon regional legislator from Pabedan township, who mediated between the protesting workers and the management, said the issue has been settled to the mutual satisfaction of both parties.
“The issue has been settled successfully,” he said. “They demanded paid leave for April. Although we could not fulfill all their demands, we were able to negotiate with them and they were satisfied with what was offered to them.”
The discussion between the protesting workers and the management was held at the construction site.
“The company will give day off with pay during the Thingyan holiday. Those who will go to work from April 1 to 9, before the Thingyan holiday, will be paid at double the rate and those who do not want to work during these days will be given leave along with half the salary,” said U Than Naing Oo.
“After Thingyan holiday, those who will go to work from April 20 to 30 will be paid double and those who will take leave will be given half salary. If workers resume their work, the company will welcome them. All workers agreed with it,” he added.
The protest came as the Health Ministry announced that a patient suffering from COVID-19 died due to the disease, the first fatality of the deadly pneumonia-like illness in the country.
Myanmar has reported 15 cases of COVID-19 patients in the country since the first two cases was announced on Monday last week.
The Yoma Central Project team and its contractor BTJV Myanmar assured its workers that they are working non-stop to enhance measures to protect their health and safety.
“We have implemented many of the recommendations on health safety issued by the World Health Organization and the Myanmar Ministry of Health and Sports,” the statement said. “We have been enforcing stricter physical distancing rules and stepped-up measures to ensure that our workers work in a safe environment.” – Translated
Source: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/workers-protest-yoma-central-construction-site.html
