Myanmar: Garment workers forced to work overnight if targets are not met
"Myanmar SHIN WON GARMENT workers are forced to work excessive overtime", 16 September 2024
The Myanmar SHIN WON GARMENT factory, which employs around 500 workers, is violating workers' rights by not allowing them to enjoy the benefits provided by the labor law, cutting off their benefits if they miss a day of leave, forcing them to work excessive overtime, and forcing daily wage earners to reapply after 3 months, according to workers working at the factory.
The factory is located in Industrial Zone 2, Nyaung Ywa Road, Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon Region...There is no labor union at the factory.
The factory is said to be making...jackets. The factory does not allow workers to enjoy the days of leave provided by the law...even if they have an emergency or are sick...The workers said that they were paid a fixed daily wage (50,000 kyats) and a skilled wage, but if they missed a day of work, they were cut off...
If the [workers] cannot meet the unilaterally requested [target], the workers are often called names and shouted at in public to humiliate them.
...because it is difficult and painful for the workers to sew [the jackets], they have to work without drinking water or going to the toilet to meet the [target]. If the [target] is not met, they are forced to work all night long.
"Even if the workers don't want to work overnight, the bosses force them to work. On Saturdays, they have to work OT until dawn. If they don't work, they are harassed, discriminated against, and humiliated," the worker said.
The factory employs day laborers and pays them only 5,800 kyats a day, and they are not allowed to receive leave, regular pay, or professional pay. They are also fired after 3 months of service, forcing them to reapply for a new one, and their service records are erased...
The demands are:
- The employer should allow workers to enjoy the leave they are entitled to.
- The employer should not pressure workers to work overnight or overnight.
- The employer does not want to hire day laborers as approved employees, so they should not fire them without reason.
- ... they would like the employer to resolve the issue by only asking for a [target] that the workers can [meet]
[Translation via Google Translate]