By Ma Ma - Jan 10, 2025
Workers at Fitex (Myanmar) Garment factory report being excessively forced to work overtime, facing discrimination if they refuse, and even being told they have to sign reprimand if they don’t comply.
Currently, factory workers are required to work overtime almost daily, which has resulted in health problems, but the absence of a medical clinic within the workplace makes the situation even more difficult. Workers are denied and subjected to verbal abuse, including disparaging remarks meant to shame them when they request gate passes to visit a clinic for health issues, according to workers. Additionally, factory supervisors are demanding production targets beyond the capacity of workers. When targets are not met, line supervisors and managers enter the work areas, shouting and scolding workers in ways that make them feel humiliated. Workers are now urging for solutions to these issues.
The factory, owned by a Chinese national, is located at the intersection of U Phoe Hlaing Road and U Aung Thu Road in Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, near Shwe Lin Ban Hospital in Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon.
With over 800 employees, the factory operates without a trade union and only has a WCC (Workplace Coordinating Committee) set up by the employer. The factory produces various shirts, long pants, and shorts under brands like FSBN, SMOG, and AMISU, and workers have reported numerous violations in the workplace.
"The official working hours are from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM. However, overtime is called for various durations after the official work hours, including up to 9:00 PM, 12:00 AM, and sometimes as late as 5:00 AM. Sometimes, specific groups of workers are called for overtime, and at other times, the entire factory is required to work. There is no system for recording whether workers are willing or unwilling to work overtime—no lists are compiled and no signatures are collected. Managers and supervisors call workers for overtime as they see fit. Even Sundays, which are official rest days, are not spared. Managers, supervisors, and line leaders scold us, and we are even told that we have to sign reprimand if we don’t work overtime. Additionally, workers who do not work overtime are subjected to various forms of discrimination," one factory worker reported.
Although overtime is excessively demanded, the factory calculates wages as follows: working hours from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM are included in the regular salary, and overtime hours worked after 7:00 PM are said to be settled on the following Tuesday. However, workers say that payments are often not made on time or accurately.
Drinking water provided at the factory is shared between drinking and general use, and is unhygienic. Toilets are reportedly unclean, posing health risks to workers.
Workers are also not allowed to bring mobile phones or personal belongings into the workplace, which creates difficulties in emergencies when they need to contact their families.
"Overtime wages and regular salaries are not disbursed promptly. Salaries are handed out only at the very last minute, around 10 minutes before leaving time. By the time we verify whether the money is accurate or not, we barely make it to the ferry buses on time. We can’t go back to claim the difference when we get home and realize the money is incorrect because they insist that the amount they gave is correct. We risk missing the ferry bus and face challenges on our way home if we check our wages before leaving. They delay wage disbursement until the very last moment even though they know transportation issues are a problem during this period. They only give out wages when they’re done with their internal processes only after sunset," another worker explained.
Workers at the factory have requested several solutions:
- Workers should be consulted before being required to work overtime.
- Wages and overtime payments should be disbursed at least 30 minutes earlier than the current schedule.
- No overtime should be called on Saturdays if it coincides with salary disbursement days.
- Drinking water should be provided using bottled water, and separate drinking and washing water basins should be arranged.
- Toilets should be kept clean.
- Given that there are nearly 800 workers, a medical clinic and a doctor should be provided at the workplace.
- Workers should be allowed to bring mobile phones into the workplace.
