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Enterprise Management
Chain repairer, Mawlamyine) got a very good business just before the rainy season as
people came to get their umbrellas and rain covers repaired. Across all five cities but especially in Mawlamyine, MEs could not work in monsoons because of excessive rains and
therefore, saved up enough by working hard during the other seasons. Myint (toddy juice
maker, Mawlamyine) worked at a construction sites in the rainy season as he could not
climb the toddy trees. Thaung (painter, Mawlamyine) did not get much work in the rainy
season and could only paint indoors. Soe (potter, Bago) suffered as well. He needed the
sunlight to dry his pots before baking them. This was not possible in the monsoons and he
incurred losses.
Some of the MEs earned well during festivals while some did not. Kyaw (Flower seller,
Mandalay) had good sales on full moon days and during the water festival (Thingyan)
when many pilgrims pay visits to the Pagodas but her sales went down in the rainy season.
Thet (wood sculptor, Mandalay) made no business during the water festival but during
June and August he had good business because of the Spirit festival in the northern part of
Mandalay during which people donate spirit statutes. Than’s (Jade bracelet maker, Mandalay) had low business on full moon day, no moon day, during Chinese New Year festival
and Myanmar New Year Festival when jade market is closed and she could not get any
supplies.
Those manufacturers who worked on order basis could only finish a few pieces everyday
so took only as many orders as they could finish. Chit (cheroot maker, Bago) could only
take 1 order of making 1000-1500 cheroots/day. Some of the other cheroot makers in
her neighbourhood were employed by a fixed broker but she worked independently as
she thought it would be difficult to say no once she is employed by a broker and take up
other consignments. Aung (Photo frame maker, Bago) worked as a daily wage worker at a
construction site when he did not have enough orders for the photo frames. Shwe (water
seller, Bago) sold water from the Bago river. There used to be a water pipeline that broke
down and there was no water for domestic use. He charged his customers according to the
distance he carried water in a yoke.
Buffalo spirit worship in Bago