By Yoon Sat - Aug 14, 2024
It is known that workers from EWTOP LOTUS CO,Ltd which locates at Makhyar Minthargyi Myaung Pyo Street, Industrial Zone 2, Hlaing Thar Yar Township is asking to add 1,000 kyats subsidy into their salaries.
The workers are get paid 6,800 kyats per day but protested on July 27, 2024 for 1,000 kyats per day subsidy and annual fees.
“The employer said they couldn’t. Workers don’t accept their response that the employer would call more overtime if they want to get pay more. So, they continue to demand it. The employer only by them said that the subsidy will be paid on pay day of August. The 1,000 kyats subsidy is mandatory and workers don’t even need to ask for it. But protests broke out as the employer is ignoring,” they said.
The employer doesn’t allow the workers to access legal leaves such as casual and medical leaves. Workers were cut 6,800 kyats daily wages and 30,000 kyats attendance bonus; a total of 36,800 kyats for missing a day of work no matter medical or emergency issue even if they inform to take a leave.
Workers are contributing for social security fees but not being entitle to the benefits. More than 40 day laborers are hired and the underage workers are also assigned the same tasks as the adult workers.
Furthermore, workers are asked fabric outputs which exceeds their productivity. A production line with 30 workforce is asked 25 fabric piece per hour. The demanded fabrics are leather jackets and a worker have to handle 4 or 5 points. The supervisors are verbally abusing the workers if the demands are not met.
“They demote the seamstress from line 10 to helper only because they don’t favor them. The demoted worker had to resigned as they complaint. The supervisors are suppressing the workers to get favor of the employer,” a worker noted.
The factory which hires more than 400 workers is owned by a Chinese national and manufacturing MAJESTIC LGEON jackets. The working hours are from 7:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and workers need to get 10 minutes earlier in the morning.
The factory failed to repair and maintained the damaged and unsanitary toilets although the employer know that.
Workers said they want to request certain facts for their damages and those are
1. The employer to pay the 1,000 kyats subsidy certainly on August payday
2. To allow to take legal leave
3. To not ask for unfair fabric output demands which exceeds the workers’ productivity
4. To not call the workers to come 10 minutes earlier
5. To not dismiss the workers illegally
6. To provide maintenance for the factory’s toilets
