Myanmar: Garment workers at Myanmar Jiale Garment who take more than two days of leave reportedly face wage cuts
Summary
Date Reported: 16 Feb 2023
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Myanmar Jiale Fashion Garment - Supplier , Zara (part of Inditex) - Former buyer , Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) - Buyer , OYSHO (part of Inditex) - Former buyer , Inditex - Former buyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 1000
Workers: ( 1000 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Denial of leave , Denial of permanent contracts , Wage Theft , Freedom of AssociationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Myanmar Jiale Fashion Garment allegedly supplies to H&M and Inditex for its OYSHO and ZARA brands; H&M and Inditex provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. In October 2023, Inditex stated it no longer sources from the factory.
Source type: News outlet
“They said that if they take leave for more than 2 days, they are forced to sign by threatening to cut the clothing fee”, 16 February 2023
…if [workers] they are absent for more than 2 days, they will only receive 40% of [their wages].
It is reported that the factory, which was opened on Chindin Road, Hlaing Tharyar Township, Hlaing Tharyar Township, Shwe Samlwin Industrial Zone, Yangon Region, employs more than 1,000 workers and sews [for] brands such as H&M, ZARA, and OYSHO.
…there is no labor union in the workplace…
"Previously, if the workers took leave, there was no cut in their wages...
A worker who did not want to be named said that in the current workplace, there are people who ask for a raise after the trial period is over, and are forced to work as day laborers.
"There is no union in the factory. Only the WCC is formed by the employer. They sign the points mentioned before. The rest of the workers do not agree with this and say this." The worker continued.
He said that the workers would like to receive statutory benefits and social security benefits and not to cut their clothing allowances.
[Translation via Google Translate]