By Ma Ma - Nov 11, 2024
The Mai Yi Bei (Yangon) Garment Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a Chinese-owned factory, is located on Pyi Daung Su Road in the Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon Region. With over a thousand workers, the factory manufactures for brands like Mister Lady, Clevercare.info, ALCOTT, and Original Marines.
According to the workers, the regular working hours are from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with standard overtime of two hours. However, workers are currently being called overtimes, sometimes until midnight or even until dawn, either for the entire factory or for selected groups. This often depends on the line or section, but workers are having to work far more than what they’re told. Some of these overtime hours are unpaid, particularly when workers are asked to stay until 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. to complete unfinished tasks. In cases where they work until midnight, they receive 7,000 kyats for food and 2,000 kyats for transportation. Overtime has been ongoing for quite some time, but the factory only pays 1,400 kyats per hour for overtime work. Even on Saturdays, they are required to work, and there are also Sundays when they don’t get a day off. Over time, workers are starting to experience health issues due to this workload, according to one worker.
“The regular working hours are from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with 2 hours of standard overtime. But now, we’re being required to work until midnight or even until dawn, whether it’s the whole factory or selected workers, depending on the line or section. Workers are having to work more than what was initially agreed upon, and some of this overtime is unpaid. Those working until 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. often have to stay late without extra pay if their line hasn’t finished its output demands, just to meet the next day’s target. Only if we work until midnight do we get 7,000 kyats plus 2,000 kyats for food. This has been going on for a long time, and the overtime pay is only calculated at 1,400 kyats per hour. We’re also called in on Saturdays, and sometimes even on Sundays, which should be our rest day. Over time, this has started affecting our health,” a factory worker said.
The factory provides a daily wage of 6,800 kyats, an additional allowance of 1,000 kyats, a regular wage of 40,000 kyats, and production bonuses. Currently, regular wages are calculated weekly, and if there are any delays in clocking in, absences, or leaving without permission according to the factory’s schedule, deductions are made from the regular wage.
“I can’t remember the exact date, but it was after the Thadingyut holiday that soldiers came to inspect the factory during the night shift. At that time, all the workers had to hide. Later, when we were working overtime, some workers were questioned by soldiers on the way home. When output demands are set, they ask us for more than we can reasonably produce. If we can’t meet the target, the line supervisors scold us. If there’s any mistake or defect, we are ordered sign warning as punishment. Although the factory has a clinic and a nurse, there’s no medicine other than paracetamol. Although there are a lot of toilets, most of them are broken and not properly cleaned,” one worker reported.
The factory also employs underage workers. On days when audits are expected, these underage workers are told to hide or are not allowed to come to work.
There are also day laborers employed at the factory, but they are not hired as permanent employees as required by law.
Currently, workers have reached out to the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) for support.
Workers are requesting that the factory obtain prior consent for overtime work, pay overtime wages regardless of the reason for working extra hours, make transportation arrangements for workers returning home, raise the overtime pay rate to 7,800 kyats per hour, stop imposing unreasonable output demands, refrain from scolding workers, take action against those who abuse workers under the terms of the EC agreement, repair and maintain toilets, provide sufficient medical supplies and a doctor in the clinic, and refrain from deducting the 40,000-kyat regular wage to those who have worked full time for minor infractions like slight delays, taking gate pass or leave.
