By Yoon Sat - Oct 31, 2024
Workers from Universal Apparel Co., Ltd from Zone 6 of Ngwe Pin Le Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon Region, report facing multiple labor rights violations. The factory, owned by a South Korean national, employs over 1,200 workers and manufactures SFERA MAN and PRONTO UOMO brands.
“The factory's regular working hours are from 7:30 AM to 6:10 PM, with mandatory overtime extending to 9 PM when requested. We are given only a 40-minute meal break and have to work overtime from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM without breaks, often under pressure. Workers who decline to work overtime face verbal abuse, discrimination, and harassment from supervisors,” a worker said.
Each production line has about 40 workers and demand 50 pieces per hour. If they fail to meet this quota, supervisors and line leaders verbally abuse and insults them. Workers also report difficulty in taking leave, even for health reasons, with the factory denying leave requests despite long years of service. Workers also face complaints when they take medical leave under social security benefits.
Workers are cut 6,000 kyats from the daily wage, 1,000 kyats from subsidy and 10,000 kyats from attendance bonuses (10,000 kyats if they miss a day in the first half of the month, and 20,000 kyats if they miss a day in the second half). These deductions have caused financial hardships for many workers.
Although the factory has a WCC (Workplace Coordination Committee), workers say it does not serve their interests because the members are chosen by the employer. Consequently, the committee does not address workers’ concerns but instead operates under employer’s direction.
The factory has a dispensary, but workers report that it is often understocked with essential medicines. Additionally, there are underage workers, aged 14 and 15, who work alongside adults without proper health certificates.
The workers have stated a list of demands to improve their working conditions:
- To grant the legal leave entitlements.
- To stop pressuring workers to work mandatory overtime.
- To establish a WCC elected by the workers rather than one appointed by management.
- To only ask for fair output demands
- To prevent supervisors and line leaders from verbally abusing the workers.
