By Min Ni Kyaw - Feb 21, 2025
Workers at Straightex Co. Ltd factory report being forced to work on Sundays, their designated weekly rest day, under threats and pressure from management.
“This coming Sunday, March 2, is supposed to be our day off. But since the factory is making us work on Sunday, February 23, as a replacement since they plans to give a consecutive two-day break on Saturday and Sunday later. Workers were not consulted—management just ordered us to work. They intimidated to deduct our attendance bonus if we refuse. We have no right to refuse or negotiate; we must follow their orders,” said factory workers.
The factory, located in Watayar Industrial Zone, Shwe Pyi Thar Township, employs around 800 workers. Workers say that after government labor inspectors visited the factory due to excessive overtime and overnight shifts, management resorted to forcing work on Sundays instead. Additionally, workers report that company-provided transportation is unreliable, causing delays in arriving at work. However, factory supervisors threaten and scold late workers instead of addressing the issues.
“Team leaders hold meetings in the morning. Workers must attend on time, and they reprimand us if we are late. We are not allowed to have breakfast If the factory’s shuttle bus arrives late. The meetings start 10 minutes before 8:00 AM, but the shuttle bus picks us up at unpredictable times. It’s impossible to eat at home before coming to work. We usually eat after arriving at the factory, but now they say we must attend the meeting first. Manager don’t care if the factory shuttle bus is late at the end of the workday. They just leave, ignoring the workers waiting outside. Our shift ends at 6:30 PM, but if the shuttle is late, we don’t get to leave until 7:00 PM. This is because factory goods are prioritized for transport first, and they don’t arrange an additional shuttle,” said workers.
It is also reported that supervisors also threaten to deduct wages if sewing machine needles break. Workers are also verbally abused if they fail to meet production targets.
“The team leaders deduct small amounts from workers’ salaries, saying it’s for medical supplies, but they never actually provide medicine. There is no clinic inside the factory, and there are no proper medical supplies. We have to buy medicine themselves,” workers explained.
Straightex Co. Ltd factory has been operating since July last year, but workers say they were never given official employment contracts (EC). The factory, owned by a Chinese national, primarily manufactures brands such as Everlast and Slazenger.
