By Yoon Sat - Nov 02, 2024
A worker from the GTIG Guohua Glory garment factory which locates on Wun Saung Mhu Road, War Ta Yar Industrial Zone, Shwe Pyi Thar Township, Yangon Region, suffered a severe workplace injury and a complaint was filed against the employer who failed to take accountability.
"The factory refused to provide medical treatment and instead offered only 50 lakhs for compensation. A complaint was filed," said a person helping the workers
The incident occurred on July 22 of last year when the worker fell backwards from the factory’s transportation bus after work, hitting their head and taken to a clinic for some medical treatment by a supervisor and a colleague,
But symptoms like nosebleeds and dizziness emerged two days later and transferred to Shwe Pyi Thar Hospital and then at Yangon General Hospital on July 27, 2023. A CT scan revealed a blood vessel leading to the brain was damaged, which was causing the recurring nosebleeds and dizziness.
In August, the worker had to return to the factory due to a lack of medical leave, despite suffering from dizziness and weakness and were reassigned from Line 14 to the Finishing Department. However, the supervisor publicly humiliated them for not finishing output demands.
On November 5, 2023, the worker experienced severe dizziness and numbness in their lower body while operating a sewing machine. When they were sent to Workers Hospital (Tamwe) , a doctor recommended an MRI, and further examination at the hospital’s orthopedic department from December 1 to December 3 revealed spinal nerve compression, which could potentially lead to paralysis without surgery.
Due to insufficient medical equipment at Workers Hospital, the worker was transferred to Kyimyindaing General Hospital, where they were scheduled for surgery on March 6, 2024.
However, the factory provided no financial assistance for the surgery, and only around 15 lakhs MMK was collected as a donation, including 10 lakhs from the colleagues and 5 lakhs from the employer.
Since the surgery, the worker has had to visit the hospital monthly for follow-ups, but their condition has not improved. A scan revealed another nerve compression near the previous surgery site, which requires another operation. However, the worker cannot afford further surgery due to financial difficulties.
The factory took no responsibility for the worker’s medical expenses from July 22, 2023, to July 8, 2024 aside from covering three monthly check-ups from August to October 2024.
On October 25, 2024, a meeting was held in the manager's office with the manager, the employer’s COC and WCC representatives, and leaders of the general factory workers' association. At the meeting, the employer stated they would no longer cover the worker’s medical expenses but only a compensation payment of 50 lakhs.
The worker requested the factory to take responsibility for their medical treatment until they fully recover but after the employer continued to offer only a compensation payment even after three months so the injured worker asked for help from STUM (Solidarity of Trade Unions, Myanmar.
