By Min Ni Kyaw - Jan 31, 2025
We are from the W&F factory located on Watayar Thein Kyaung Road.
The cutting supervisor and the Chinese female line supervisor are extremely harsh.
The cutting supervisor gives bonuses and promotions only to those who get along with him. Those who don’t comply or don’t get along with him are constantly targeted for dismissal. Many have left because of conflicts with him.
Numerous cutting supervisors have been illegally dismissed. This supervisor yells, causes chaos, and doesn’t treat workers like human beings.
The Chinese female line supervisor behaves similarly. She speaks Burmese and dismisses supervisors she doesn’t like, telling them not to come back the next day. Workers who are dismissed are too afraid to file complaints because they fear they won’t be hired by other factories.
For overtime (OT), workers are forced to work overnight without being allowed to sleep or provided a place to rest. We are bitten by mosquitoes all night and have to return to work the next morning.
Previously, we worked until 6:30 PM, but now it’s extended to 7:30 PM. No meals or breaks are provided. We are given food only after working past midnight.
The Chinese interpreter used in the factory is also very rude. The Chinese female supervisor interferes in unrelated matters, yells at workers, and behaves rudely. She even mistreats the clerks, demanding money and speaking harshly.
Workers are afraid to report to HR due to fear of retaliation from the Chinese supervisor.
The office clerk blamed us when we complained about the ferry service. The ferry doesn’t wait for workers, but we have to wait for the clerk to board at her convenience.
The office clerk is very harsh when discussing the ferry. The ferry owner is an interpreter, which allows them to manipulate workers as they please.
The office clerks, instead of supporting their fellow Burmese workers, seem to push them into deeper trouble. Even drinking water is not provided, so workers have to buy their own. The worst part is being forced to work OT until midnight without a place to sleep, and the Chinese supervisor continues to make unreasonable demands.
Working continuously until midnight has left us with poor eyesight. We are too afraid to file complaints because one worker from Line 5 was dismissed after reporting. The factory management is untrustworthy, as they are close to the Chinese supervisor.
When there are fewer workers, they reduce the number of ferries. The factory workers are suffering greatly. Please help us.
Background Information:
W&F Group Co., Ltd, located in Watayar Industrial Zone, Shwe Pyi Thar Township, Yangon Region, employs around 800 workers and produces garments under the FSBN brand. According to the NLF Myanmar Workers' Union, the factory was sued by the Ministry of Labour in 2023 for violating labor laws by forcing excessive overtime, as reported by Myanmar Labour News.
