By Min Ni Kyaw - Feb 20, 2025
#Workers' Letter
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Some of you may think that the issue at HC Garment Factory has been resolved since there have been no further reports. However, I want to clarify what really happened and share more details about the hardships workers are still facing inside the factory.
HC Garment Factory is owned by a Chinese national and is located in Kyi Hsu Industrial Zone, South Dagon Township.
Let me explain why we protested. We did not demand a wage increase. Instead, we asked the factory to pay us the wages they originally promised during recruitment. The factory failed to honor this commitment, which is why we spoke up.
February 10 was the payday for the workers who had resigned. Approximately 300 workers from three production lines left their jobs simultaneously due to unfair wages.
The factory only calculated wages based on 4,800 MMK instead of paying the agreed daily wage of 5,800 MMK. We demanded full payment.
Many workers suffered losses. Some had no money left for daily expenses, while others who had already stopped working and came to collect their wages found their pay unfairly deducted. Some stood waiting all day in the scorching sun despite feeling unwell.
The factory restricted entry, allowing only small groups of five workers to collect their wages at a time. Workers were forced to sign the payroll slip before they could count their money. Some noticed discrepancies, and when they checked, they realized that the actual payment did not match the amount stated on the slip. That’s when the dispute began.
We have yet to receive our full wages even after all this.
Simply put, they stole our wages.
When we confronted the factory, they claimed they were paying according to the government-mandated wage rates. That was when we lost our patience.
We worked for HC Garment Factory. Our salaries were promised by HC Garment Factory. The wage rates were set by HC Garment Factory.
Yet, the factory told us to take our complaints elsewhere when we demanded our rightful pay.
Moreover, the government-mandated 2,000 MMK monthly support allowance was never given to us. This means the factory withheld 60,000 MMK per worker over the course of a year. They are breaking both their own promises and government regulations.
So, what does this mean? Were our wages cut simply because we resigned? Or were they stealing from us all along?
This is the injustice of HC Garment Factory. We have yet to receive a single kyat of our rightful earnings. And no one has taken responsibility.
There are countless other injustices inside the factory.
Workers are subjected to verbal abuse from managers and supervisors. Even production bonuses are not fully paid. Many workers tolerate these conditions because they need to survive, but they are afraid to speak up.
Supervisors pressure workers to meet unreasonable production targets. They shout and insult workers if targets are not met.
Managers humiliate workers, apply constant pressure, and throw garments at them. They treat workers harshly and disrespectfully.
This has been our daily experience.
The factory refuses to pay them for the overtime and production bonuses they earned when workers resign. Even those who worked overnight shifts never receive their rightful pay.
We understand that workers have the right to refuse overtime. But in this factory, refusing overtime is not an option. We try our best to meet their demands, yet they still force us to work in unbearable conditions. Even when we voluntarily agree to work overtime, they force us to sign consent forms. Sometimes, workers don’t even get to sign—office staff sign on their behalf.
The work schedule at HC Garment Factory begins at 7:30 AM. Lunch break is at 11:30 AM. At 4:00 PM, workers continue without a break, but overtime is only calculated from 5:00 PM onward. This means we work an extra 30 minutes each day for free.
On Saturdays, we do not get a proper break after lunch, if we work overtime. Instead, we work continuously from 12:30 PM until 6:30 PM. Then, we eat dinner and work from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM—all for just 6,800 MMK.
We work 5 extra hours, yet our base hourly wage is barely 5,400 MMK. Where is the 5,800 MMK they promised? It’s easy to see the calculations don’t add up.
This unfair practice happens every Saturday, which is why workers do not want to work overtime at night.
Workers are even denied access to drinking water when company representatives visit the factory. We are not allowed to bring water bottles to our workstations. Instead, they set up a separate area for drinking water, but all factory doors remain locked, so we cannot leave our stations to get a drink.
The fans in the factory are never turned on, despite being installed.
Under these conditions, we are suffering from severe thirst and exhaustion as if they are working in hell.
The worst part is that we are constantly pressured to meet unrealistic production targets. There is no time to drink water or take a restroom break because of this. Workers are terrified inside the factory.
There are countless other violations happening every day.
We have yet to receive our rightful wages to this day. We demand the full payment of our daily wages, bonuses, and other benefits.
These unpaid wages are crucial for survival for over 300 workers and their families.
This fight is far from over.
That is all for now, brothers and sisters. Thank you.
