Namtu silver mine workers end strike, or Whatever happened to the former King of Opium

MONDAY, 11 JUNE 2012 12:40 S.H.A.N.
Workers calling for increased pay and better treatment ended their strike Friday, 8 June, after agreement was reached with the Win Myint Mo company, a subsidiary of Asia World, reported Kawli Media.

Asia World is owned by former “King of Opium” Lo Hsing Han and his son Stephen Law aka Tun Myint Naing.

The workers went on strike on 31 May after the company failed to pay for their overtime working during the April Water Throwing Festival.

The 9 point demand include:

Basic pay
40 hour work per week
Repair of damaged railroad between Namtu and Bawdwin
Exemption from water and electricity tax
Freedom to set up a trade union
Not to discharge workers at will
Monthly pay for daily-wage workers plus overtime
Right to receive 30,000 kyat ($ 37.5) government grant beginning May
Appointment of a doctor at Bawdwin Hospital and treatment free of charge
Signed by 517 workers, a petition was submitted to President Thein Sein on 5 June.

Company representatives had agreed to Point 1-6 unconditionally. As for Point 7, the company said it could agree to paying the daily-wage workers K 2,100 ($ 2.6) per day. Government grants would be paid beginning June. It will also apply for a doctor from the state government but the workers are required to foot their medical bills partly.

The Namtu-Bawdwin mines, operated since the British days, still boasts more than 11 million tons of ore. It had been one of the main revenue earners for the Shan State Government before Independence. It was taken over by the Win Myint Mo 2 years earlier “somewhat reluctantly”, according to the workers, resulting in the fall in the production.

“More than 200 workers were sacked since the beginning of the year,” said a protestor. “The company now promised there will be no lay-off within the next 6-months.”