Union successfully fights mass dismissals in Myanmar

The Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) has successfully fought two mass dismissal cases, winning the reinstatement of over a hundred garment workers in Yangon.
In March 2020, Kamcaine Manufacturing used COVID-19 as an excuse to dismiss 57 workers, members of IWFM, including all seven executive members of the local union. The company claimed the termination was unavoidable due to a lack of orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, IWFM criticised management for union-busting, as new workers were hired after the dismissal of the union members.
After months of engagement and a campaign to reinstate them, the company and the union reached a written agreement on 4 August 2020. The agreement states that all 57 workers will be rehired and that five local union leaders will be reinstated with full back wages, benefits, and seniority.