A total of 41 businessmen were charged with violation of labour laws between January 2015 and January 2016, according to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.
U Win Shein, director general of the Factories and General Labour Laws Inspection Department, said his department and the Department of Labour Relations have charged factory owners with violation of labour laws and failures to comply with orders of the Dispute Settlement Arbitration Council.
According to the departments, a maximum fine of K1 million (US$808) has been set for violating labour laws, and 16 cases remain undecided.
U Aung Lin, a member of a labour rights group, said the fine is not effective. “We welcome the ministry’s action against violators, but the penalty is not as effective as they think. We would like to see violators receive fines and prison sentences.” Owners of garment factories and shoe factories in Yangon’s industrial zones are among those who are charged with violation of labour laws.
Source: GLNM
