"Labor violations reported but no action taken", 23 October 2024

Workplace violations are occurring at the Eternal Fashion garment factory located on Anawrahta Road, Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone, Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon Region, and workers have complained to the labor office but no action has been taken.

Workers allege that labor violations include being forced to work overtime on weekends without a day off for a month, and being verbally abused, discriminated against, and pressured and threatened if they refuse to work overtime.

The factory is owned by a Chinese national and produces shirts under brands such as SEM/R, TOREAD THE WORLD, TOREVD, and minibala.

Although it employs more than 10,000 workers, it does not have a labor union.

"Labor rights are being violated repeatedly. They don't have a day off for a month, they call them overtime every Sunday. If they don't work, the supervisors...talk rudely, discriminate against them, and pressure them," said the worker, who did not want to be named.

In addition to regular working hours, the workplace requires them to work overtime until 12 midnight every day and they are forced to work overnight (all night) for 4 consecutive days, so they work without any rest.

Regarding the overtime, many workers are forced to work overtime [because the factory threatens them] with their jobs, salaries, etc...

Workers say that they are even more upset because they are being verbally abused even though they are allowed to take medical leave.

The workers said that they have complained to the relevant labor departments about these workplace violations, but no effective solutions have been taken. They said that inspections have been conducted at the workplace, but there was no change.

"...when people come to work, they have to work like robots without stopping. They are so tired that they leave after a week. They have to work overtime until their health is affected. It is not easy to recover," said a female worker who did not want to be named.

She said that she often suffers from diarrhoea due to the problem of unclean drinking water at work.

"When taking the ferry, 60 people are forced to ride in a car that only holds 45 people...which is dangerous. In the morning, people who come with their own plans are still crowded, and in the evening, it is inconvenient and dangerous. The elders pretend not to know." The worker said.

The workers are demanding that the following points be improved to ensure the health and living conditions of the workers. The demands are

1. The employer should provide clean drinking water for the workers.
2. ...Workers...should not be called on weekends and Sundays.
3. Employers should not pressure workers to work overtime.
4. "Labor violations reported but no action taken [for] sick leave."