Management and employee representatives from a blanket factory in the Shwelinban Industrial Zone of Rangoon have settled a dispute after the 14 labour leaders accused their employer of discrimination, labour leaders and officials said yesterday.

The row came after 80 labourers from the Htawara Blanket Factory on May 6 demanded wage increases, a safe and healthy work environment, and health-care rights, a labour leader said. While township authorities mediated and a settlement was reached on those rights, the 14 labour representatives who made the claims on behalf of the group felt their employer had a grudge against them, as evidenced by excessive monitoring and loss of overtime.

The 14 leaders, including Aye Aye Myint and Swe Hlaing Oo, on May 10 lodged a discrimination charge against their employer at the township labour office, thus involving the township’s peace and development council to oversee talks between management and the employee representatives, the labour leader said.

“Agreement was reached after the employer acceded to some of the employees’  requests. Both sides had clarified their positions by the end of the meeting,” an official from Hlaingtharyar Township labour management committee told Mizzima.

Since December tens of thousands of workers at factories manufacturing garments – including the Lion City garment factory – sweets, leather and footwear in Hlaingtharyar, Shwepyithar and Insein townships in Rangoon Division have launched strikes calling for increased wages, reduced working hours and other labour rights.