By Hsu Latt Phyu - Jan 23, 2025
Daily wage workers from Myanmar Jiale Fashion Co., Ltd. 1 are facing violations of their rights, including being forced to meet excessive production targets and being subjected to verbal abuse, workers told Myanmar Labour News.
The factory, owned by a Chinese national, is located on Chindwin Road in the Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, and employs over 800 workers. It produces manufacture AMISU brands and does not have a trade union, according to workers.
Many daily wage workers at the factory are hired without being granted permanent employee status even after three months of work. Workers are often given a week-long break and then rehired as daily wage workers, causing financial and emotional distress, workers claim.
“Daily wage workers are being exploited through various tactics. The HR manager sometimes says they are busy, so we don’t fill out forms for those days when we first start working. As a result, we don’t get paid for those days. It’s basically unpaid labor. The HR manager and the person in charge of recording attendance respond rudely, saying, ‘Don’t you understand? We’re not paying you if you don’t fill out the forms,’” said one worker who asked not to be named.
Workers also reported that the recruiter receives a payment of 100,000 MMK for bringing in the new workers after completing three months. However, the workers themselves lose out on benefits like leave and job security despite their consistent work.
According to workers, the factory imposes unreasonably high production targets that they cannot meet. On each production line, there are about 40 workers, including machine operators, helpers, and supervisors, yet they are required to produce up to 600 garments per hour.
“The employer sets incentives for meeting targets, but we’re not allowed to miss a single day of work all month, no matter the reason. The worst part is that we’re required to meet Sunday production targets on Monday. They won’t give us the incentives if we fail to do on Manday,” a worker explained.
Although workers are entitled to one day off per week, they are still required to meet weekly production targets for all seven days. This practice leads to significant pressure, and workers are not compensated for overtime, workers said.
Workers are calling on authorities to address the violations they are facing in the workplace. Specifically, they demand the following:
- Managers and attendance recorders should refrain from speaking rudely to workers.
- Employers should stop demanding additional production targets to make up for Sunday.
- Daily wage workers should be paid starting from their first day of work.
- Employers should only impose production targets that are achievable for workers.
