YANGON DIVISION – The junta council is reported to have sent a secret instruction to the UMFCCI (Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry) to collect the data of youth workers working at the industrial zones and at factories, workshops and businesses outside the industrial zones in Yangon and the UMFCCI is said to be working with the junta Ministry of Labour to collect the data and report it to the junta council.
In collecting the data of workers, UMFCCI and the Ministry of Labour are reportedly using the reason of registering the workers when collecting data of workers without NRIC or labour card when in reality it is to collect data for the junta council. The head general secretary of UMFCCI and a garment business owner, Ms. Khaing Khaing Nwe is leading the collection of data, assisted by sibling associations and industrial zone committees.
Although it is not yet clear why the junta council ordered to collect the data of youth workers, workers’ rights activists believe that it can only lead to concerning situations for the workers.
“There is also conscription law so maybe they are collecting data for it. As the battles are also slowly reaching the cities, it is extremely suspicious how they are secretly collecting the data of workers. It is definitely concerning for youth workers,” said a workers’ rights activist from Hlaingtharyar Industrial Zone.
Currently, UMFCCI is said to be reporting the data of workers collected by organisations from 12 industrial zones in Yangon and Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association to the junta council.
