"NEWTOP LOTUS workers ask for 1,000 kyats subsidy", 14 August 2024

It is known that workers from NEWTOP LOTUS CO,Ltd which [is] locate[d] at Makhyar Minthargyi Myaung Pyo Street, Industrial Zone 2, Hlaing Thar Yar Township [are] asking [for the factory] to add 1,000 kyats subsidy into their salaries.

The worker...protested on July 27, 2024 for 1,000 kyats per day subsidy and annual fees.

“The employer said they couldn’t. Workers don’t accept their response [-] that the employer would call more overtime if they want to get [paid] more...The employer...said that the subsidy will be paid on pay day of August. The 1,000 kyats subsidy is mandatory and workers don’t even need to ask for it. But protests broke out as the employer is ignoring,” they said.

The employer doesn’t allow the workers to access legal leaves such as casual and medical leaves. Workers were cut 6,800 kyats daily wages and 30,000 kyats attendance bonus; a total of 36,800 kyats for missing a day of work no matter medical or emergency issue even if they inform to take a leave.

Workers are contributing [to] social security fees but [are] not being entitle[d] to the benefits. More than 40 day laborers are hired and the underage workers are also assigned the same tasks as the adult workers.

Furthermore, workers are asked [to meet targets] which exceeds their [capability]...The supervisors are verbally abusing the workers if the demands are not met.

“They demote[d] the seamstress from line 10 to helper only because they don’t favor them. The demoted worker had to resigned...The supervisors are suppressing the workers to get [the] favo[u]r of the employer,” a worker noted.

The factory which hires more than 400 workers['] is...manufacturing MAJESTIC LGEON jackets. The working hours are from 7:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and workers need to get [to the factory] 10 minutes earlier in the morning.

The factory failed to repair...the damaged and unsanitary toilets...

Workers said they want to request certain facts for their damages and those are

1. The employer to pay the 1,000 kyats subsidy certainly on August payday
2. To allow to take legal leave
3. To not ask for unfair fabric output demands which exceeds the workers’ productivity
4. To not call the workers to come 10 minutes earlier
5. To not dismiss the workers illegally
6. To provide maintenance for the factory’s toilets

[Translation via Google Translate]