By Ma Ma - Nov 26, 2024
Workers from Chinese national owned Myanto Industrial CO. Ltd said that has been unfairly demanding garment output demands and each worker is forced to sew 4 points instead of 3, and other employees had to make up for the work of absent workers.
This factory is located in Mya Sein Yaung Industrial Zone, Myakheta Road, Hlaing Tharyar Township, employing over 500 workers to manufacture October, AMISU, and Aero Guard brands.
Within the workplace, there is no trade union, and violations are present, as reported by workers.
“The items to be sewn are pants and shirts. The garments being sewn are fitted designs. Each sewing line has more than 30 workers, with some lines having over 40 workers. For an urgent sewing line, the line must produce 30 pieces per hour, and each worker is required to sew 3 to 4 points. On shirt sewing lines, 40 pieces per hour must be provided. If there are absent workers, the output demands for their work is not reduced. Instead, those present are required to meet the full output demands, including the absent workers’ quota. Workers can’t meet the requested output demands. The garments are fitted designs, and if the quota is not met, the supervisors or line managers yell at and scold the workers, threatening that they will have to pay back a full month’s salary,” a worker reported.
Overtime is required every Sunday if the output demands are not met. Workers refusing overtime are threatened with termination by supervisors and line managers, and there are instances of bullying and harassment.
“We are called into the office and scolded harshly if we discuss issues about garment production among ourselves. Supervisors on Line 8 and Line 9 not only scold workers for making mistakes in sewing but also physically react by kicking chairs with their feet, hitting them with their hands, and pointing fingers at workers while yelling. Furthermore, we cannot enjoy their entitled leave. If an emergency arises and a leave request is submitted, it is not approved. For every missed workday, workers are deducted a total of 37,800 kyats, which includes 7,800 kyats for meal and support allowances, 30,000 kyats for daily wages, and any skilled allowances given according to their position. As a result, workers suffer financial loss. Access to drinking water is also difficult because the water source is far away, and the factory does not allow workers to bring bottled water to their workstations, causing further inconvenience,” a worker explained.
Currently, factory workers have reached out to the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) for assistance regarding their grievances.
The workers are requesting that the factory grant them their rightful leave days, ensure that supervisors and line leaders stop yelling at and scolding them, request realistic output demands that can meet, refrain from assigning quotas for absent workers to those present, and provide accessible drinking water, end the physical actions of supervisors on Line 8 and Line 9, such as kicking chairs, hitting objects, and pointing fingers while yelling at workers.
