By Min Ni Kyaw - Nov 25, 2024
#Letter
We are workers of Great Glowing Garment Factory, also known as JW, Our factory is located at Zaykabar 7 Street, Zaykabar Compound, in Yangon Industrial Zone, Mingalardon Township.
We, the workers, have no issues with the factory owner. However, the HR department’s behavior toward the workers is extremely unacceptable and problematic. The remaining senior staff members of the HR department, three individuals, treat us harshly and unfairly.
The HR manager, a female, goes by a name starting with “Khin.” Another individual, who handles payroll, has a name starting with “Soe.” These individuals mistreat the workers severely. For example, if we make mistakes in the workplace, we are forced to sign warning letters. While we comply and sign, they don’t even involve worker representatives or leaders when issuing these warnings. They use their authority to force us to sign, showing no respect for the Worker Coordinating Committee (WCC) representatives.
Even after the warnings are signed, the HR manager and payroll officer continue to harass the workers with extremely harsh words. The payroll officer, in particular, is known for using inappropriate language.
This behavior is not gender-specific. Both male and female workers are subject to abusive words. Male workers have expressed how embarrassing it is to hear such things. They speak in a condescending and disrespectful tone, as if they are superior to us. Perhaps they behave this way because they might be thinking that they have decision-making authority over our jobs.
We, the workers, work hard using our skills and strength to contribute to the factory. Just as they have expertise in their roles, we also have skills and knowledge in ours. To put it simply, they, like us, are workers too.
We are often subjected to insults such as “Don’t you know you’re at fault?”, “Do you not have a brain?”
, “What do you think you are?”, “You don’t even know your status!”, “Which position are you working at?”, “Do you have any authority?”
Sometimes, even curse words are used. They scold us harshly, calling us degrading names and treating us disrespectfully and challenging us to brawl.
The HR manager does nothing to stop this behavior. She doesn’t control her department staff, so we, the workers, are left to bear the brunt of their disrespect.
The EC contract we signed explicitly states that workers are not to be treated unfairly or unequally. The HR staff themselves must also sign this contract. This raises the question: is the factory tolerating such unfair treatment? Does the EC contract not apply to the HR department?
Additionally, the factory has rules prohibiting phone use and eating in the workplace. Yet, the HR department drinks coffee, uses their phones, makes video calls, and plays TikTok. Meanwhile, for us workers, even making an emergency call is extremely difficult.
We accept that the HR department has authority and responsibilities. However, if they treated workers with mutual respect and professionalism between juniors and seniors, it would be much better. Right now, what we’re experiencing is women harassing other women, treating us harshly and unfairly.
We are skilled workers contributing to this factory. We are not under their direct supervision, and we did not come here to work just to be humiliated and disrespected. There is no reason for them to use their power to oppress and harm us.
Since 2022, the factory has undergone significant positive changes and has been moving in the right direction. However, the HR department, particularly the senior staff, remains unchanged and continues to mistreat workers. We kindly request that the relevant authorities address and resolve this issue.
