Myo Thein
Workers at the Chi Mei garment factory say that some supervisors have been deceiving them by promising bonuses in order to make them work. They report that at the start of the work period, the QC manager said bonuses would be paid, but when salaries were issued, no bonus was included.
“We would receive a bonus they said that if the work was completed and the results were good. But when we received our salaries at the end of the month, there was no bonus included. When we asked about it, they said the factory owner had made a loss and couldn’t pay. We worked the entire month to achieve good results. If they really couldn’t pay, they shouldn’t have promised it in the first place,” a worker said.
According to workers, the bonus structure was announced as 60,000 kyats for Grade A+, 50,000 kyats for Grade A, and 40,000 kyats for Grade B. They also said that attendance bonuses are distributed in a discriminatory way between sewing lines and other departments.
“The factory gives different attendance bonuses to sewing lines and other departments. Sewing lines get 40,000 kyats, while other departments receive only 30,000 kyats,” workers said.
In addition, workers report that the QC manager speaks in humiliating and degrading ways toward line leaders and workers inside the workplace.
“They uses rude language right in front of other workers. They brings up our parents and uses degrading comparisons. Since most of the workers are women and young women, it is extremely humiliating for us,” one worker said.
Workers said the QC manager’s arrogant and abusive behavior has made it very difficult to work. Although complaints have been reported to factory management, the behavior has continued.
“We have reported the QC manager’s abusive behavior to the factory before, but no action was taken. Maybe that’s why he continues to insult workers openly in the workplace,” a worker said.
Chi Mei International Co., Ltd. garment factory is located in Shwepyitha Township, Yangon, in Shwepyitha Industrial Zone 3, Palae area. It is reported that around 900 workers are employed at the factory.
