By Ma Ma - Jan 11, 2025
Workers at JOYFUL (Myanmar) Garment report that they are not being granted legally entitled leave, and their requests are rejected if they request leave due to health or personal emergencies. Instead, they are being terminated unlawfully for missing three consecutive days of work, according to what workers told Myanmar Labour News.
"Social security leave or sick leave is not allowed, and neither is casual leave. No legal entitlements are given. They don't approve leave if we can't work due to poor health or personal emergencies and call to request leave. Instead, they simply say we missed work for three days and unlawfully terminate us. They deduct 9,000 kyats for daily wage and subsidy if we miss one day of work. This 9,000 kyat deduction was just started this month. On top of that, 20,000 kyats in attendance bonus is also deducted. Now, for missing one day, we face a total deduction of 29,000 kyats. We’re suffering because these violations of workers' rights are happening,” said one worker at the factory.
The factory is owned by a Chinese national and is located on Min Thida Street, Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, with a workforce of over 600 employees.
The factory manufacture atlasformen-brand trousers and has no trade union, with only a WCC (Workplace Coordination Committee) that reportedly acts in line with the employer's interests, according to workers.
Working hours at the factory are officially set from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, but workers are required to stay for overtime until 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM under the excuse of "urgent orders." Sometimes, workers are even made to work overnight shifts.
After working overtime, workers are reportedly forced to sleep on-site, causing health issues due to a lack of rest.
“There are also underage workers in the factory. These children are made to work alongside adults despite not having medical clearance certifying that they are fit for work. In the packing department, the leader mistreats workers to secure their own position. He shouts at workers, insults them, and even physically intimidates them. They retaliates with more aggression if we complain. Although the employer is aware of his behavior, nothing is being done to address it. It’s unbearably hot inside the factory, even during winter. There are no fans, and ventilation is very poor,” another worker said.
Due to these violations, workers have sought assistance from the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM).
The factory workers are demanding that they be granted leave entitlements as per the law, that the packing department leader be held accountable for physically abusive behavior, that unlawful terminations stop, that proper ventilation systems be installed, and that their consent be sought before assigning overtime shifts and that overnight shifts cease.
