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New York: Moe Sandar Myint is the leader of one of Myanmarâs largest garment worker unions. Until recently, the 37-year-old mother of three and former sewing machine operator would spend her days representing workers with labour complaints and helping members of the Federation of Garment Workers Myanmar unionise their factories.
But her life changed on February 1, the day a coup brought back full military rule to the country after years of quasi-democracy. When the internet was cut off, workers flocked to the unionâs offices. Several days of informal meetings led to small-scale strikes on factory floors, spilling onto the streets outside and eventually feeding many of the increasingly deadly mass demonstrations that have taken place across Myanmar in recent weeks. Often seen at the very front, wearing a mask and white helmet, was Moe Sandar Myint.
Myanmar protests: garment workers demand action from fashion labels
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Myanmar protests: garment workers demand action from fashion labels
watoday.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from watoday.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Myanmarâs Defiant Garment Workers Demand That Fashion Pay Attention
Female garment industry union leaders are emerging at the forefront of the deadly anti-military protests, and asking global brands to take their side.
Members of the Federation of Garment Workers Myanmar â most of them women â have been prominent in the protest movement since the countryâs military coup on Feb. 1.Credit.FGWM
Published March 12, 2021Updated April 6, 2021
Ma Moe Sandar Myint is the leader of one of Myanmarâs largest garment worker unions. Until recently, the 37-year-old mother of three and former sewing machine operator would spend her days representing workers with labor complaints and helping members of the Federation of Garment Workers Myanmar unionize their factories.
Striking garment workers demonstrated outside the offices of the International Labor Organization in Yangon, Myanmar, earlier this week demanding that global apparel brands ensure workers are not punished for participating in pro-democracy protests. Photo: Andrew Tillett-Saks, Twitter.
Update: Late Friday evening, February 26 (local time), the Myanmar military declared most of the country s labor organizations illegal on public television, with the threat of arrests if their activities continue, adding to the urgency of international solidarity activities.
On February 1, the Myanmar military staged a coup and seized power from the elected civilian government under the pretext of alleged election fraud. The coup leaders detained top government leaders and activists, shut off the internet, and suspended flights. This marks a dark and uncertain turn in the country’s decade-long, fraught experiment with partial democratization.