Myanmar: Workers face abuses including wage theft and arbitrary dismissal at factory reportedly supplying REGATTA and United Athle
Summary
Date Reported: 28 Feb 2023
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Myanmar Morning Flower (MMF) Garment - Supplier , Regatta - Reported buyer , United Athle - BuyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 300
Workers: ( 300 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Denial of permanent contracts , Dismissal , Mandatory overtime , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Myanmar Morning Flower allegedly supplies to Regatta and United Athle; both brands provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. Regatta stated it does not source from the factory.
Source type: News outlet
"The workers are calling for reform of the gross violations of labor rights", February 28 2023
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It is reported that the workers' rights are being severely violated at the Myanmar Morning Flower (MMF) Garment factory, which was opened at Shwe Lin Van Industrial Zone, Hlaing Tharay Township, Yangon.
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It is said that the [...] factory manager said that the workers of the machine line are no longer being paid grade wages ... and that they are also canceling machine lines ...
It is reported by the workers that they sew brands such as REGATTA and United Athle and operate with around 300 workers without forming a trade union.
The factory operates with about 300 workers, but only 10 workers have more than 1 year of service, and the rest of the workers are being fired and rehired due to low orders. There is no EC contract, no casual leave, no social security card, and no benefits, the workers said.
"If I work 8 hours on Saturday, I only get 4,800. I don't get OT pay. If I don't work OT on Sunday, I'm fired the next day. I don't get any legal benefits. Helpers with 6 to 8 months of work experience only get 3,600," said a worker who did not want to be named.
"The OTI fee is only 900 per hour. If you have a registration form from the employee, they don't ask for any proof. If you fire them, they can't do anything. If they don't like the workers, they fire them," said the struggling worker.
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The workers said that they would like to request that workers who have completed 3 months to be accepted as confirmed employees, to be paid 4,800 days' wages to workers who have completed 3 months of work, to be paid overtime if they work overtime on Sunday, and not to be fired if they do not work overtime, and to be paid full wages on Saturday, etc.
[Translation via Google Translate]