"Some 100 workers at the Miko Coffee Mix factory held a protest in front of the plant in the Mandalay industrial zone, backed by members of the Myanmar Industries, Crafts and Services Trade Union Federation. “They had no reason to fire us,” said Ma Htay Mar, who was one of the four workers dismissed. “They fired us because they didn’t want us to form a labour union. The labour office didn’t solve this issue. We told them to negotiate with the employers many times but they said they couldn’t.” The management allegedly dismissed the four workers for stopping production machinery when they went to the toilet to relieve themselves. The workers questioned their dismissal at a local labour office, but the issue has not been resolved. The protesters urged the management to immediately reinstate the four workers. U Min Thet Htwe, a labour leader who joined the protest, urged the Labour Department to conduct regular inspections of factories to check on the conditions of workers in order to avoid disputes..."