By Yoon Sat - Nov 16, 2024
The New TOP LOTUS CO., LTD factory, located near Minthar Gyi Maung Pyo Road and Bogyoke Main Road in Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon Region, has been reported for exploiting underage workers and violating labor rights.
The factory, owned by a Chinese national, employs over 1,000 workers to manufacture the brand named COLIN'S, and it operating without a trade union.
Among the workforce, over 50 young workers under the legal working age and without proper health certifications are being made to work alongside adult workers under the same conditions.
Violations cited include failure to provide legally mandated labor rights such as leave entitlements, refusal to grant necessary leave even during emergency situations, and a policy of deducting wages for sick leave. Workers said that the factory limits medical leave to three days and deducts wages for absences due to illness. In addition, workers claim they are cut overtime pay and allowances such as a daily wage + support stipend of 7,800 MMK, an attendance bonus of 30,000 MMK, and skills allowances for a leave.
Furthermore, workers report being subjected to excessive output demands. One production line of over 90 workers is required to produce 35 garments per hour.
"The employer subject workers who cannot meet the unfair output demands to daily verbal abuse and scolding from supervisors. Since the output demands are high and it is difficult to meet the numbers demanded by the employers, workers have to sew without going to the bathroom or drinking water. Even then, it is hard to meet the targets. Workers, unwilling to endure the verbal abuse, are forced to push themselves to the limit," said a worker.
The factory provides a support stipend of 7,800 MMK and pays 6,800 MMK for holidays, but does not pay the regular attendance bonus of 30,000 MMK to HP workers. HP workers are working under the same roof and performing the same tasks, but the employers differentiate in paying the regular daily wage, causing workers to suffer losses.
"There are two sub-factories in the factory, Factory 1 and Factory 2. There is no regular ferry service for workers. Ferry rides are very overcrowded in the morning and evening. Most workers from the Bogyoke market are unable to board the crowded ferries, so they have to walk long distances," a worker said.
Workers have put forward the following demands regarding the violations:
- To grant their entitled emergency leave and medical leave.
- To address the overcrowded ferry transportation issue and ensure adequate commuting options for them.
- To set realistic output demands that they can achieve.
- To cease verbal abuse and harassment of workers by supervisors.
