"Heng Li Garment Factory Workers Work Without Rest Days and Face Violations", 11 July 2024

Workers at the Heng Li Garment Factory, located at No. (-), Saya San Road, Bogyoke Stop, Hlaing Tharyar Township, have been working overtime without rest days even on Sundays, and have been subjected to numerous violations of their labor rights, according to the workers.

The factory employs more than 300 workers and produces pants and shirts under the HOUSE brand.

"In terms of wages, machinists and haberdashers are not paid equally. The factory opened in April 2024, but when inspections came, they were told [it] open[ened] in May. In the rain-prone areas, workers had to [hold] umbrellas [while sewing]. Pregnant workers were also fired without reason," the worker said.

The working hours are from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm, and they refuse to work overtime, and they are forced to work until 9:00 pm without asking the workers for their consent. They are also forced to work overtime on Sundays without any rest day for a whole month. If they do not work OT, the workers are...cursed by the supervisors and superintendents.

"...If [workers] do not [meet the targets] they [were] ask for, [the supervisors] are always yelling and screaming. There are not enough people on the machine line, and it is an unfair [target]," the worker said...

The workplace does not provide workers with the right to paid sick leave, and although social security contributions are paid monthly, workers do not receive social security benefits. Therefore, if workers are sick, they are not allowed to go to the social security clinic or take sick leave.

If a tailor misses a day, his daily salary is deducted (6,800 kyats) and his regular salary is deducted (30,000 kyats). If workers in other departments miss a day, his daily salary is deducted (5,800 kyats) and his regular salary is deducted (30,000 kyats). In addition, if they miss a day, they are discriminated against, harassed, and pressured. Workers are suffering because they are suffering from discrimination, harassment, and pressure.

The demands of the workers for the loss of workers' rights due to many violations are as follows:

1. Employers should not fire pregnant women without cause.
2. Employers should not be biased in determining the level of skill and pay, but should pay real experts.
3. The employer should provide a roof over the sewing area...
4. The workers should be paid the same daily wage as those working under the same roof under the same factory.

[Translation via Google Translate]