Dozens of garment workers are understood to have been injured while protesting outside a factory in Yangon earlier this week.
According to local reports, the predominantly female protesting workers were injured when they were attacked by a mob of “hired thugs” outside the Fu Yuen Garment Co Ltd factory, which is said to have produced clothes for German supermarket chain Lidl and UK fashion brand Joules.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The workers began picketing the factory nearly two months ago over alleged poor conditions and mistreatment, according to News Asia. The latest protests were for the reinstatement of 30 sacked workers.
Of those injured, 24 were admitted for treatment, while six were treated as in-patients, Reuters reported.
In a statement on Facebook, the Yangon Police said the protestors started the clashes against non-striking workers.
The factory could not be reached for comment and Lidl did not return a request for comment. A spokesperson for Joules said the company had stopped working with Fu Yuen Garment Co Ltd in April.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataMyanmar’s garment exports are primarily exported to Japanese and European markets, as well as South Korea, China, and the US. The industry operates around 400 garment factories, employing more than 300,000 workers.
However, those jobs could be under threat if the European Union revokes Myanmar’s duty-free access over the Rohingya crisis.
The European Commission launched a procedure earlier this month to consider withdrawing Myanmar’s access to the Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential trade programme.
Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said the Commission has been monitoring what she describes as a “deeply worrying and worsening situation” in Myanmar with regards human rights violations.
The crisis in Rakhine State has created political uncertainty and potential risks and reputational issues for firms sourcing garments from Myanmar.
According to an overview of Myanmar on re:source by just-style, the new online strategic planning tool from the team behind the publication, while a process of reform has been underway in the country since 2011, many international apparel brands and retailers are taking a cautious approach when it comes to extending their supply chains into the region.
