By Min Ni Kyaw - Feb 10, 2025
The QC supervisor from the CHIMEI Garment Factory, located near 14th Street Junction in Shwe Pyi thar Industrial Zone, has been verbally abusing workers and coercing them into working overtime, according to factory workers.
“I clearly explained to the supervisor why I couldn’t do overtime. I didn’t sign up for it since I really couldn’t stay. But they called me to a meeting and insulted me with harsh language just because I refused. The supervisor themselves never stays for overtime—they leaves at 6:30 PM,” said one worker.
Workers in the QC department are forced to work overtime until 8:30 PM or sometimes midnight (all-night shift) almost every day, according to reports. With around 30 workers in the department, the same workers are repeatedly forced into overtime without rotation, causing serious health issues.
“We are insulted if we feel sick and ask for a gate pass to visit a clinic. They tell us to quit the job if we refuse OT because of illness. We are threatened that we must pay back double the OT rate we return to work the next day. Many workers have left the job due to such threats,” a worker explained.
The factory provides meals and arranged transportation for workers after OT, but female workers expressed concerns about safety and difficulties entering their dormitories late at night.
“They punish us by forcing us to work an all-night shift on Monday if we refuse Sunday OT. We don’t get to leave until midnight. Female workers feel unsafe because some dormitories don’t allow entry after a certain time, forcing them to sleep outside the gates,” said a female worker.
The QC supervisor has also been accused of physically harassing workers and publicly insulting female workers in front of male employees, making many of them feel humiliated and ashamed, leading to resignations.
“There’s only one male worker in the QC department, but in nearby departments like ironing, packing, and labeling, there are only male workers. Female workers feel too ashamed to return to work when they are publicly scolded. Some even cry from embarrassment.
In addition, the supervisor grabs workers by the hair, bends their heads down, and physically assaults them. Workers are enduring this mistreatment because they need the job, but many have resigned because of their behavior,” a worker said.
The QC department consists of one supervisor, one sub-supervisor, two leaders, and around 30 workers. The factory employs approximately 1,000 workers and is owned by Chinese national, according to reports.
There is no WCC (Workplace Coordination Committee) in place, and the factory mainly manufacturesT-shirts and shorts.
