Labour rights and gender in the context of the garment sector in industrial zones, Yangon, Myanmar | |
| Author | Pyae Phyo Swe |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-14-03 |
| Subject(s) | Employee rights--Myanmar--Yangon Women employees--Myanmar--Yangon Clothing workers--Myanmar--Yangon |
| Note | A thesis submitted in the partial fulfilment of the requirement of thedegree of Master ofScience in Gender and Development Studies, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no.GD-14-03 |
| Abstract | Garment sector is one of the labour intensive economies which can create huge amount of job opportunities for baseline workers. It is a kind of gender sensitive work place. In Myanmar approximately 80 % of labour force in the garment sectoris occupied by women workers. Therefore, it can create the economic autonomy and empowerment of women workers. On the other hand, garment factory workers are exploited to payment, working hours, working conditions in their workplaces in differentways. This study explore thegender dimension oflegal protection on labour rights, support of trade union on protection of labour rights, and complianceand violation of labourrights application in garment sector, Yangon industrial zones by conducting in-depth interview to 30 respondents, two focus group discussions and key informant interview. Qualitative data analysis method use to analyze data.In current situation, Myanmar adopted 9 legal frameworks which can protect the factory works rights. Obviously, the existing legal frameworks can protect labour rights and which are not exploited to the factory workers. Nonetheless, the considerable point is the increasing labour strikes in the garment factories day by day. Weak institutions, weak rule of law, lack of stronglegal frameworks ofthe country is oneof the reasons of occurring labour right exploitation in the garment sector. Poor infrastructure, high cost of doing business and high shipping cost are input factors for exploitation. According to previous researches and primary data analysis of this study, access to effective legal protection is particularly depending on all three players: employers,workers and government.Labourer understanding on labour laws and labour rights, employers respect to national laws of host country and law enforcement of the country are major elements for standard labour market. Trade union is one of the stepping stone for improving labour standard in Myanmar. It can reduce labour exploitation through collective bargaining. However, women participation in leadership role of labour union is quite low in Myanmar. Both men and women workers have to share same benefits and exploitations in their workplaces. However, women workers become more vulnerable because of their nature of work, education level, social status, unequal division of labour in the family and socially constructed gender norms.Compliance and violation of labour rights application in the garment sector measures in terms of working conditions, working hours, payment and wages and access to social security. According to different factory polices and size of the factory, both male and female works access the same benefits and exploitation in their work place. However, most of the garment workers are still facing exploitations and violations in their factory.Therefore, we can understand that there are uncertain law enforcement, incompetent legal protection for labour rights, because of high corruption and weak rule of law of the country. |
| Year | 2014 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no.GD-14-03 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Doneys, Philippe; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Kusakabe, Kyoko;Sajor, Edsel E.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2014 |