Burmese Workers Program

Burmese Workers Program aims to raise awareness among Burmese Workers in Fort Wayne, Indiana particularly about labor rights, employment benefits, workplace safety issue, federal and state employment laws etc. This educational program welcomes all the Burmese workers in Northeast Indiana and looks forward to establish a healthy working environment for Burmese workers.

Fort Wayne is a home for more than 3000 Burmese immigrants who were once not only oppressed by military government in Burmese, but also they had gone through variety of difficulties in border areas as political refugees or immigrant workers throughout Thai-Burma border.

After prolong suffering in refugee camps and jungles, thousands of Burmese refugees arrived to the United States of America since earlier 1990s and started off their new lives but their futures are still uncertain. Culture diversity, different understand of labor and workplace relative issue and language barriers play a critical role in their new homes. No doubt, for refugees from one of the poorest countries, their standard of living in the United States has improved over times. Difficulties and systematic discrimination in the Untied States is unquestionable as compare to their miserable lives under the world most brutal dictatorship in Burma; but the question is Do they have to take it all forever?

A very shaken event turned a new chapter for Burmese workers in Fort Wayne when a group of Burmese workers from Phoenix Sewing Inc stood up demanding their rights at workplaces in 2006. Increasing number of Burmese population and scarcity of jobs in Fort Wayne lead a large number of unemployment among Burmese. Burmese Workers Program, associated with Northeast Central Labor Council, believes that it is time to find a resolution for the stable future of Burmese community. We are helping Burmese workers in Fort Wayne to avoid unfair labor practices and educating via workshops and trainings. For more information please contact us at bwp@burmeseworkersprogram.org

 

Burmese Workers from Phonex Inc Stood up demanding for their rightful "Labor Rights" in 2006