"Myanmar Journey factory forced to work over 20 hours of overtime"

Workers at Myanmar Journey, a textile factory in Yangon, say they are forced to work overtime for more than 20 hours a week. They say they are forced to sign in and work overtime during the flood season.

“They do not ask the workers’ consent when they call for overtime. They force them to work overtime from 8pm every week from Monday to Friday, and sometimes on Sundays.

The workers said that the normal working hours at Myanmar Journey are from 8am to 4.30pm. The 2022 directive from the Department of Labor and Employment Inspection states that overtime cannot be exceeded by more than 20 hours a week, and that they must obtain a week’s prior notice if they are forced to work overtime. In addition, the company has also instructed workers to obtain their consent before requiring them to work overtime.

“It’s not just the supervisors who force them to work overtime, the managers themselves force them to work overtime. Even if they do, they don’t give permission. They force workers to sign. If they don’t work overtime, they call them. They stop working the next day. If they don’t work for a long time, they force them to work, they fire them.” One worker said.

In addition, workers are exploited by coming in 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled working hours without taking advantage of the legal leave.

“In the morning, I have to come in 15 minutes earlier than the working hours, and if I get home after 15 minutes, I don’t go to the toilet. They are stealing workers’ working hours. If they take leave, they don’t get any leave. If they take leave, they are fired. If they take a leave, they don’t get paid. If they get sick, they don’t get paid. ".

There is a male supervisor at the factory who is abusive and threatening and discriminates against female workers.

"If the supervisor insults female workers, he insults them with his.... He is very rude. If he calls them to work overtime, they force them to work. They don't know what the rules are. If they don't meet the standards, they are forced to work hard," said a female worker.

They are being watched and beaten for not meeting the standards, not only for not wearing a toilet card, but also for not wearing a toilet card. In addition, they are being fired illegally, and day laborers are being fired equally.

"Day laborers are fired, and day laborers are not hired for long periods. If they don't like it, they are fired. But even experienced workers are fired." said a worker.

In addition, if you want to quit, you have to submit a resignation letter a month in advance, but if you don’t, the factory won’t pay you your wages and won’t let you withdraw them on your behalf, the workers said.

“If you don’t submit a resignation letter, you don’t get paid. The manager issues it to his people. He doesn’t issue it to others. He doesn’t issue it on your behalf, he has to come and get you out in person. He doesn’t send you back when you’re sick. He doesn’t give you a pass in case of an emergency.”

The workers also said that they asked to return home, but they didn’t let them go and forced them to work. The workers also said that they were not allowed to bring phones into the factory when they wanted to report violations, and that they were not allowed to talk to each other, and that if they were found, they would be forced to pay a fine.

The Myanmar Johnny Myanmar Journey bag factory is located on 2nd Street, Wada Industrial Zone, Shwe Pyi Thar Township, Yangon ... It is reported that more than 300 workers are sewing Solo brand bags.

[Translation via Google Translate]