By Ma Ma - Feb 10, 2025
Chinese national-owned JinKai Manufacturing (Myanmar) Co., Ltd has been accused of discriminatory overtime pay practices and oppressing workers who refuse overtime, according to factory workers.
The factory is located on Mahura Road, Thadhukan Industrial Zone, Shwe Pyi Thar Township, and employs over 700 workers. Reports indicate that there is no trade union within the workplace.
This factory primarily manufactures LC Waikiki brand.
“Workers from the Finishing department receive 1,600 MMK per hour for overtime, while sewing line workers receive 2,000 MMK per hour. Now, they claim orders are urgent and are forcing workers to do 8.5 to 9.5 hours of overtime daily. Workers who refuse face discrimination and hostility.
Despite doing the same job, salaries are intentionally unequal. Workers are also forced to do tasks others refuse.
Workers face security risks on their way home and have been subjected to police inspections and extortion at night because of excessive overtime.
When workers raise concerns about unsafe late-night overtime, the HR manager pressures them, saying, ‘The owner ordered it, so you have no choice.’ The employer only cares about maximizing production and does not consider workers' well-being,” a factory worker said.
The factory employs over 60 daily wage workers, who are paid 1,000 MMK per hour. They are not granted permanent worker status and are instead dismissed even after three months of employment.
Workers are denied legally mandated benefits, including medical leave and social security, even though their wages are deducted for social security contributions every month.
Although the factory provides a combined 7,800 MMK for attendance and support allowances and 30,000 MMK for a monthly attendance bonus, workers lose the entire amount if they take even one day off.
“There are underage workers between 14 and 16 years old in the factory. The management does not require them to provide health clearance certificates, but they are forced to work the same as adult workers.
Workers are also subjected to unrealistic production targets. Each sewing line has only 32 workers, yet they are required to produce 40 pieces per hour.
Workers are not allowed to drink water or go to the restroom to meet the target. It is increased the next day even when the target is met.
Workers do not know who the members are although the factory claims to have a Workplace Coordination Committee (WCC). The employer has only appointed people who will follow their orders.
Many workers still have not been given proper employment contracts (EC), according to a worker.
Factory workers have already contacted the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) to seek help in resolving these violations.
Workers are demanding that the employer set realistic production targets, stop forcing underage workers to work like adults, ensure equal and fair overtime pay for all workers, remove employer-appointed WCC representatives, stop discriminating against workers who refuse overtime, grant permanent contracts to workers after three months and top illegally terminating workers without just cause.
