"Prettex Myanmar factory workers say they will quit despite complaints over overtime work", 25 September 2024

Prettex Myanmar garment workers are facing difficulties after being forced to work overtime and due to changes in working hours.

The factory said that they were facing difficulties because the working hours were changed from 7:30 am to 7 pm instead of 6 pm, but the workers threatened to quit.

“We told the supervisors (supervisors) that [it was too late for] workers in Mawby, Mingalardon, and Hlaing Tharyar...They told us to leave the office...” they said.

...workers who return home late are facing security and social problems such as irregular electricity supply, military service laws, and robberies. They are forced to work 3 hours of overtime every day out of the changed working hours.

“...If I couldn’t do it, I was always told to quit. The manager and supervisors told me to do what they said...” A worker said.

The factory said that they had to work without being too aggressive with the supervisors because of threats.

...the workers were not given the contract and were not allowed to know the information in the contract. A worker said that the factory employs day laborers and that workplace injuries are occurring.

“A day laborer was sent to the hospital after he hit his hand with a knife. But he didn’t get a day off. "I have to work without rest, with a big bandage, and I have to work with serious injuries because I'm afraid I won't be called back to work the next day."

... If [workers] take a gate pass for emergency reasons, they are not allowed to leave because they don't have a valid reason...

Although the workers suffer from the heat in the factory, there are days when they don't have enough drinking water in the factory.

The workers said that the Prettex Myanmar factory forced them to work overtime from August to September 21, from 8 pm to 12 am. They were not given dinner or lunch...Workers said that they were not given shuttles at 5 am and on Sundays.

They complained to the township labor office about the overtime work, but no action was taken.

The Prettex Myanmar factory is located in the Sadukan Industrial Zone, Shwe Pyithar Township, Yangon, and is a 100% foreign-invested factory that employs around 1,000 workers...`

[Translation via Google Translate]