By Min Ni Kyaw - Jan 16, 2025
Most factories refused to give their workers time off and instead forced them to work overtime, according to workers although the military council officially announced a 5-day public holiday for government offices.
“Factories didn’t close. We had to work overtime. The same in Dagon area. Workers had to work overtime on Saturday. They still made us work on Sunday even though it is officially a day off. Workers are asking how they are supposed to handle the situation if they are called mandatorily. They said, ‘We will fire you if you don’t show up, and Department of Labour will resolve everything.’” This was shared by a member of a labor union.
The Ministry of Labor and the Department of Labor Inspection issued follow-up announcements regarding the official holiday declared by the military council. However, factories continued to demand overtime. Some employers intimidated workers with termination or wage cuts if they refused to work on the days set by the employer.
Mai Yi Bei Garment Manufacturing, a Chinese-owned factory employing around 1,200 workers forced workers to work on the official holidays as substitute days. Workers who refused to comply were threatened with not being paid their wages, according to the workers.
Workers from Asialink (Myanmar) Fashion factory in Thar Du Kan Industrial Zone, were forced to work overtime on holidays, and they were not allowed to leave by 4 PM. They were made to continue working late into the evening.
“Factories didn’t close. It’s not just in Hlaing Thar Yar and Shwe Pyi Thar townships. The townships like East Dagon and Dagon Seikkan are the same. Some promised to pay overtime wages, while others claimed it would be made up for days off. Those who didn’t show up to work were intimidated with wage cuts, loss of other benefits, or the suspension of attendance bonuses. If this happens, the Department of Labormust intervene neutrally and resolve the issue,” said another labor union member.
Workers said they could only find out whether wages would be cut for those who didn’t work on official holidays or whether overtime wages would be paid for substitute days after their wages are issued.
