Salary crisis in Waekhalote

Workers waiting outside for fair wages

 Marnut a Hmo ethnic of Thailand, who had threatened not to pay for the wages of his 38 Burmese employees from Burma, finally paid 200,000 baht to all the employees in front of PVA officials and the village officials in Waekhalote village on October 15, 2010. 

The dispute started a year ago when Marnut hired the employees to work for the chili plantation promising to pay them after it was done. Then he changed his promise by saying “after the malt plantation” or “after the potato plantation” for one year without any pay. When the employees refused to work further, he started to threat them by kicking, punching and shooting with the gun to go back to work. Therefore, the employees named Ko Zaw Htun, Ko Soe Htun and Ko Aung San Oo filed a complaint at PVA on May 3, 2010.

PVA discussing with the heads of both Thai and Burmese from the village brought Marnut to the office and conducted the investigation. He finally agreed to pay what he owed to them by confessing his wrongdoing in this regard.

On October 15, 2010 Marnut had paid all the employees for what he owed them as he promised.