Workers' struggles in East Asia (February 2013)

For more news from China (in Chinese) see JTTP.cn and Jasmine Revolution. For news found from other regions, see here.

This month there has been news from Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The most important stories:

Cambodia 13: Road blockade for unpaid wages in Takhmao, Kandal (link 1)
Cambodia 22: Strike over wages and firing of workers at NagaWorld Casino in Phnom Penh (link 1)
Cambodia 26: Hunger strike by workers for unpaid wages at garment factory supplying Walmart and H&M (link 1) (link 2) (link 3) (link 4)
China 28: Protest over company refusal to give permanent contract at Ohms Electronics in Shenzhen, Guangdong (link 1)
Japan 1: Strike by teachers at Peppy Kids Club in Osaka in December (link 1)
Taiwan 6: Protest by laid off workers over demand to pay back compensation in Taipei (link 1) (link 2) (link 3)
Thailand 8: Strike over new shift without overtime at General Motors car factory in Pluakdaeng, Rayong (link 1)
Thailand 15: Overtime ban over overtime payments at Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) in Bangkok (link 1) (link 2) (link 3) (link 4)

All reports ordered by country and date:

-Analysis

5: China's trade union reforms aim to control its militant workforce (link 1)
8: China sees upsurge in worker protests prior to Lunar New Year (link 1)
12: Can We Trust Foxconn's New "Democratic" Chinese Factories? (link 1)

Burma/Myanmar

13: Protest against Letpaduang copper mine in Monywa, Sagaing Division (link 1) (link 2)
25: Protest in support of villagers charged over Inle Lake hotel zone protest in Nyaungshwe, Shan State (link 1)
26: Protest by villagers against electricity cut-off in Kyaukpadaung, Mandalay (link 1)
27: Protest against land seizure in Maubin, Irrawady Division (link 1) (link 2) (link 3) (link 4) (link 5) (link 6)
28: Hunger strike by residents against Letpadaung copper mine in Sarlingyi, Sagaing Division (link 1)

Cambodia

1: Protest by laid off garment workers over unpaid wages at Kingsland Garments, suppliers of Walmart and H&M (link 1) (link 2) (link 3)
10: Protest by redundant Kingsland workers for compensation at H&M (link 1) (link 2)
13: Road blockade for unpaid wages in Takhmao, Kandal (link 1)
22: Protest against land seizure in Phnom Penh (link 1)
22: Strike over wages and firing of workers at NagaWorld Casino in Phnom Penh (link 1)
26: Hunger strike by workers for unpaid wages at garment factory supplying Walmart and H&M (link 1) (link 2) (link 3) (link 4)

China

5: Protest over death of migrant worker in pay dispute in Chengdu, Sichuan (link 1)
6: Protest against birth control enforcement officials in Wenzhou, Zhejiang (link 1)
13: Protest against police corruption in Yubei District, Chongqing (link 1) (link 2)
14: 'Hundreds' Detained Over Holiday (link 1)
16: Protests against North Korean nuclear test in Guangzhou, Guangdong and Shenyang, Liaoning (link 1) (link 2)
23: Protest over poisonous gas leak in Dongying, Shandong (link 1)
27: Protest by AIDS patients for welfare benefits in Beijing (link 1)
28: Protest by migrants against exam ban in Beijing (link 1)
28: Protest over company refusal to give permanent contract at Ohms Electronics in Shenzhen, Guangdong (link 1)

Indonesia

6: Protest by workers for benefits and right to organise in Jakarta (link 1) (link 2)
6: Protest by pedicab drivers against violent harassment by officials in Semarang, Central Java (link 1)
7: Protest by workers against delay of minimum wage in Batam, Riau Islands (link 1) (link 2)
7: Protest by workers against social security contributions and delay in minimum wage in Jakarta (link 1) (link 2)
16: Strike over sacking of security workers at PT Tanjungenim Lestari Pulp and Paper (link 1)
18: Protest by domestic workers for rights bill in Jakarta (link 1)
19: Protest by workers against proposed laws on mass organizations and national security in Jakarta (link 1) (link 2)
26: Protest by workers for minimum wage implementation in Jakarta (link 1)

Japan

1: Strike by teachers at Peppy Kids Club in Osaka in December (link 1)
19: Protest by workers against dismissal of employees and union busting at American Apparel (Japan) (link 1)
22: Protest by mothers over shortage of public nursery schools in Tokyo (link 1)

Laos

11: Land Activist Defends Actions (link 1)
22: Protest by residents over relocation compensation in That Luang Marsh, Vientiane (link 1)

Malaysia

3: Protest against land seizure in Tumpat, Kelantan (link 1)
13: Strike over wages and payment of levy at furniture factory in Johor (link 1)

Philippines

1: Protest against proposed law in Manila (link 1)
2: Protest by coconut farmers for return of levy in Manila (link 1)
13: Protest against repression of militants in Manila (link 1)
14: Protest against corruption at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) at Cotabato, Mindanao (link 1) (link 2) (link 3)
25: Protest against US military presence in Manila (link 1) (link 2)
26: Protest by typhoon victims over relief distribution at Department of Social Welfare and Development in Davao, Mindanao (link 1) (link 2) (link 3) (link 4) (link 5) (link 6)

South Korea

20: Strike by taxi drivers for recognition as public transport workers (link 1)

Taiwan

3: Protest for land rights in Taipei (link 1)
4: Protest by state-firm workers against cuts to bonuses in Taipei (link 1) (link 2)
6: Protest by laid off workers over demand to pay back compensation in Taipei (link 1) (link 2) (link 3)
7: Protest against labor insurance reforms in Taipei (link 1)
25: Protest against nuclear power in Taipei (link 1)

Thailand

8: Strike over new shift without overtime at General Motors car factory in Pluakdaeng, Rayong (link 1)
9: Success in Thai Airways strike in Bangkok (link 1)
12: Protest by villagers against proposed coal plant over health concerns in Krabi (link 1)
15: Overtime ban over overtime payments at Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) in Bangkok (link 1) (link 2) (link 3) (link 4)

Vietnam

1: Strike for Tet bonus at Minh Phu-Hau Giang Seafood Processing Company in Chau Thanh District, Hau Giang Province (link 1)
16: Protest against burial of sick pigs in Quang Nam (link 1)