By Hsu Latt Phyu - Nov 11, 2023

At the Yangon Art Materials Incorporation Limited painting frame manufacturing factory opened on Mya Yadanar Road, Mya Seine Yaung Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, the workers were not entitled to any benefits and furthermore and the workers who did not meet the standards were discriminated against, engaged enmity and forced to sign warning, and other labor rights violations were committed, the workers said. 

The factory is owned by a Chinese national and operates with more than 200 workers, and a close-knit factory with around 30 workers has been opened next door. The worker, who did not want to be named, said the workers were being forced to work more than 100 hours of overtime per month.

In addition, the workers from the MG department were appointed to go to work in other departments instead of the designated department, and the workers did not get the bonuses even if they exceeds the specified product standard, the worker said.

The worker said that although there is a conciliation committee WCC formed to resolve workers' dispute issues in the workplace, but due to the employer's non-recognition of the WCC, these representatives are unable to negotiate with the employer on various difficulties in the workplace, therefore there is a loss of rights for the workers.

"In the TC department, there is no day off. The workers on the large machine have to work 10 hours a day without a break, and because the machine is driven continuously, the workers don't even have time to eat, so it's like eating while working. No snack break too. We can't even have a peaceful meal. Only the workers from the TC department are called for overtime but the workers from other departments get the day off," said the worker.

Although the Ministry of Labor of the Military Council issued an additional monthly allowance of 30,000 kyats to workers in various businesses with more than 10 workers, but in that factory the workers who actually requested the payment were forced to sign a warning.

The workers wants to allow all workers to enjoy the days which they are entitled to, to appoint them only in designated department, to give a meal break for the workers from the TC department, not to hold grudges against the workers and force them to sign warnings and to give bonuses to workers who meet the set standards