Myanmar: Garment workers allegedly threatened with arrest by the military if they informed union leaders of labour rights violations at the Popular Garment factory
Summary
Date Reported: 11 Sep 2021
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Popular Garment - Supplier , JD Sports Fashion - Reported buyer , JD Sports Fashion - Former buyer , Regatta - Former buyer , Lidl - Former buyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 1000
Workers: ( 1000 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Intimidation , Business-military collusion , Imprisonment , Freedom of AssociationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Popular Garment allegedly supplied to Lidl, Regatta and JD Sports; All brands provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. JD Sports stated it had not proceeded with production at the factory after authorisation. Lidl stated that it had stopped business with the factory from September 2021. Regatta stated it does not have current business with the factory.
Source type: Social Media
“Popular factory workers were threatened with arrest if they contact to union leaders who are joining CDM”, 11 September 2021
According to workers at the popular garment factory, workers were threatened that they can be arrested if they contact to union leader[s] who are joining CDM and tell[ing] [them about] the working condition of the factory.
A worker said…“We…called a meeting on September 2 [with] Line 1 supervisor. She conveyed the message from the factory manager U Pyae Phyo Aung at the meeting. She said that “the factory knows that workers are informing about what is happening at work to the union leaders who are doing CDM. The factory will call the military to come to the factory to arrest the workers if the workers continue giving information. “
As a result of such threats from factory management, most workers are worried that they will be arrested if they report workplace violations…