By Min Ni Kyaw - Jan 21, 2024
I am a worker from Wonderful Appeal garment factory which locates in Han City Power Street, Myaung Takar Industrial Zone, Mawbe Township, Yangon. Forgive me for not mentioning my department.
They are forcing excessive all light overtimes in the factory which the line supers yell at us in public if we refuse. Although we worked all light overtimes, we are not entitled to the overtime wages but in the name of substitute. They were inspections from the labor office as there were reports and files before but the factory have already chosen the workers who were to answer. The answers we wrote on the paper the inspector gave in the room was not true. We had to lie and wrote nonsenses as the manager to us to look back on the factory.
The inspectors from the labor office intimidate the workers saying that “Reporting would make the interests loose”. Agreement letters to work overtime are forced to sign and had to start overtime as soon as the meal fee was given.
Overtime is not agreed by the workers but the all supers and factory officers called a meeting and told the workers to work overtime mandatory through the supers. The supers summoned those who are refuse to sign the overtime agreement letter and humiliate and verbally abused them.
The factory closed for four days from national day (7th December) to the Sunday (10th December). We had to work substitute days for those off days on Sunday (3rd December) We worked all light overtime on 6th December too. We didn’t get paid overtime wages but in exchange of the working hours. The agreement letters for those days are forced to sign only after the working hours.
We worked until 6:30 pm on Saturdays, all light overtime on 6th January which is the substitute for 13th January. No wages were paid. And the same goes to 10th January all light overtime which is the substitute for 12th January. The factory close four days from January 11th to 14th.
The workers do not agree with working for substitute days. Although the factory pressured us by breaking the law, we had to sign it as we are not able to be against them. They are also saying that all light overtime for (Today) Saturday, 20th January is the substitute for the next Saturday. The consent of the workers is not asked at all. We are working due to the worriment of losing the attendance bonus if we refuse to work.
If the Saturdays are close due to the lack of orders, we have to return our 2 our labor for free from the next overtimes. They cut for substitute days despite working the whole month if we resign. We have to compensate with money if we lost a label or button. We ask for help. Please publish public to let everyone knows.
(Wonderful Appeal garment factory locates in Han City Power Street, Myaung Takar Industrial Zone, Mawbe Township, Yangon and operating with over 450 work force. The factory is manufacturing KIABI, TROLLKIDS and JACKET brands. There is no trade union but the work place coalition committee has been formed)
