"Workers' rights are violated at the Nexstar garment factory", 21 November 2023

It is said that more than 800 workers working at the Nexstar garment factory opened on Glass minister U Nyunt Road, Industrial Zone 1, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon, are having to [work] without benefits.

At that factory...the worker said that they are making John Baner and Women Secret brands jackets, pants and shirts and they are not [being permitted] legal leaves, [they are] being demanded [to meet targets that are] more than what they can [do], and [they are] forced to leave their jobs.

"We are not allowed to enjoy casual leave or seniority leave...[if we miss] a day for sick[ness] or any other reason, we [face wage cuts of] 5,800 kyats of daily wages[,] 10,000 kyats of attendance bonus and a total of 15,800 kyats," said the worker.

The worker said that they are also faced with excessive [targets] in the workplace, [they are] demanded [to complete] 30 pieces of fabric per hour for a single machine line, then in order to meet the number of fabrics, they have to sew without going to toilet or tak[ing] a water break during the working hours.

"The factory is going to move from Hlaing Thar Yar to Shwe Pyi Thar Township branch. The workers who can't follow are told to quit their jobs....although the factory has enough orders, they don't call for overtime, they only ask for 8 hours of work, and the salary is only a day's wages...They are doing it deliberately to make them leave their jobs...," said the worker.

The worker said that there are some workers who went back [to] their hometown on last Thadingyut holidays, and 4 workers who were late to work on the opening day due to travel difficulties were pressured to come back as new[ly] [hired workers], and told them to quit their jobs if they can’t accept it.

It is also said that there is no trade union organized to solve labor issues in the workplace.

The workers said that they want to be allowed to enjoy casual leave and seniority...requested only the [targets] that they can [meet]...and to act according to the law...if the factory is mov[ing].