Myanmar: Garment workers at Synergy Garment factory forced to work without a day off
Summary
Date Reported: 2 Oct 2023
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Synergy Garment - Supplier , Gémo - Buyer , Lidl - Buyer , Mango - BuyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 800
Workers: ( 800 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Harassment (other than sexual) , Gender DiscriminationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Synergy Garment allegedly supplies Mango, Lidl and GEMO; Lidl and GEMO provided a response to an invite to comment from the Resource Centre. Mango did not respond.
Source type: News outlet
"The labours of the SYNERGY Garment Factory in Hlaing Thar Yar say they are being forced to work without a single day off", 2 October 2023
It is reported that there are physical abuses and [explicit language used] against workers in the SYNERGY GARMENT factory which [is] located between Debayin Secretary Assistant Road, between A Sint Myint and Bogyoke, Hlaing Thar Yar Township.
The garment labourers at the factory are being forced to work overtime without a day off even on Sunday, which is a holiday. It is reported that only a few labourers get overtime pay, and most of them work without overtime pay.
“This week, we had to work continuously until 8pm. Even on Sunday too. labours are all exhausted. We are tired. All factory workers have to work on working days. They rest on Sunday and do [house]work...[so]...they [didn't] come on Sunday. Those [workers] were told not to come [to the factory] anymore. A girl [was] even demoted to...helper...Almost everyone is working for free....Most...workers don’t get overtime fees except the cutting lines...” said a labour.
The...[factory] fired [workers] for not working overtime on the Sunday...It is reported that the demotions and slanderers have been perpetrated for about two months since the [Supervisor] arrived.
“Working overtime for free is [has happened in the] past but [the insults started] only after [the supervisor was] recircuited...There are 3...super[visor]s but only she does...this. [She does] [n]ot [permit] us [a] gate pass too...There have been 3 people who have been fired for not working on Sunday,” she said.
The factory has about 800 labour[er]s [at the factory] and manufactur[es] warm clothes..
“[Supervisor] Ma (Miss)...called us [a] “Whore”. She didn’t [provide instructions for] some young [workers] at first...[and then] yell[ed] if they made some mistakes...She pulled their hair...The juniors are tolerating [this] only because they are scare[d],” said the labour.
Due to the violation of rights in the workplace, it is difficult to file a complaint with the relevant departments and the labours said that they wanted them to solve the problem so that they would not be forced to...work overtime for free. And they also want to [be] give[n] leave [for] absence and holidays.