Myanmar: Garment workers report abuses at reported GUESS supplier incl. wage cuts & denial of permanent contracts
Summary
Date Reported: 30 Dec 2023
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Guess - Buyer , Mango - Reported buyer , J-Land Myanmar - SupplierAffected
Total individuals affected: 800
Workers: ( 800 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Wage Theft , Occupational Health & Safety , Denial of permanent contracts , Harassment (other than sexual) , Gender Discrimination , Denial of leaveResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: J-Land Myanmar allegedly supplies to MANGO and GUESS; MANGO provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre, stating it does not source from the factory. GUESS did not.
Source type: News outlet
"J-Land Myanmar Garment Factory's day laborers are given reduced wages...", 30 December 2023
The workers of J-Land Myanmar Garment Factory violated the minimum wage law and reduced their wages, and some officials took a cut of the workers' [wages against] their will.
J-Land Myanmar garment factory in Yangon, Bamboo Industrial Zone At No. 49...is a factory where [clothes for] the world famous brand GUESS [are] made with around 800 workers.
“We are appointed on a daily wage basis. The salary is 4800. Starting at 5,000. On Sunday...[overtime] is not given for the evening working hours.... These days, [some] day laborers have become permanent workers. The rest of them are still working as day laborers," a worker told Myanmar Labor News...
...J-Land Myanmar day laborers have to work together with regular workers, in addition to weekends and holidays. The workers said they were not paid for overtime and were not entitled to daily wages...
5,200 per day wage is the wage rate that was increased in August, the workers said. The workers said that when the wages were increased, the daily wage was reduced from 3,000 kyats to 6,000 kyats. In addition, the workers said that there are cuts in the wages of the workers against their will...
The workers said that because the brand representatives came to inspect the J-Land Myanmar factory, they were visiting the factory clinic that was not there before and saw a nurse...
The workers said that the factory [supervisors]...rudely. A worker also said that although the Social Security Clinic allowed [them] to take leave, the factory office rejected it as [it was] more than 30 days.
"...Unfortunately, my eyes hurt. The welfare clinic gave me leave. The office did not allow it because it was 30 days. It is not suitable to work in a factory with people who [have] sore eyes. "said a worker who was not allowed.
J-Land Myanmar factory officials set rules that are not in line with the law, and around 20 workers were fired based on those rules, aid groups said.
[The workers demand that they] earn 5,800 per day[,] [and they call for the factory] to reorganize the WCC; Not to discriminate against day laborers, To eliminate workplace odors[;] To provide good ventilation[.] The workers of J-Land Myanmar have demanded that..no deductions be made from the salaries of the workers against their will.
[Translation via Google Translate]