Mizzima-Dec 30
Thousands of Myanmar garment workers employed in Chinese-owned factories in Ruili, Yunnan Province, China, are facing severe wage exploitation, according to workers who spoke to Mizzima. The workers report that their wages lack a standardized baseline and are arbitrarily determined based on rankings assigned by Chinese factory managers. Myanmar workers are required to endure grueling 11-hour shifts from 7 am to 7 pm, with additional unpaid overtime often extending to 9 pm or later. In some factories, shifts stretch until 11 pm. Labor brokers recruit workers from garment factories in Yangon, transporting them to Ruili through the Muse-Ruili border using a loan-based system. Until recently, workers could cross the border with weekly passes, but new regulations now require factory work permits. These changes have left many workers stranded on the Myanmar side in Muse, enduring long waiting periods under harsh conditions. “Some workers are stuck for three to four months in warehouses. The brokers provide lunch, but the cost is deducted from their wages. Workers are charged 30 to 35 yuan or more per day for meals, which adds to their debts,” said a Myanmar worker in Ruili. To expedite entry into Ruili, some workers opt for a costly fast-pass system at the Muse Palace gate, paying 1,800 to 2,000 yuan. Despite this, jobs often fail to meet expectations, with wages being particularly low.Migrant workers in Ruili face threats of deportation if they protest against low wages or refuse to work. Many who previously held weekly border passes have fled. The political instability in Myanmar following the military coup has driven many young people to seek jobs abroad. However, border cities like Ruili, Yincheng, and Mansi offer limited opportunities and are rife with exploitation. Mizzima is seeking a response from the Chinese Embassy in Yangon regarding the allegations of worker exploitation in factories along the border. Read more at:
