By Hsu Latt Phyu - Apr 27, 2025
Workers at HOPE ONE CO., LTD garment factory, located near the Alal Village Fire Station Roundabout Maung Kyan Thi Street, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon Region, are facing difficulties due to workplace violations, they reported.
Workers stated that they are denied leave entitlements, threatened with dismissal if they request gate passes, subjected to verbal abuse, pressured with excessive production targets, and forced into overtime without proper ferry arrangements, causing hardships and prompting their demand for resolution.
The factory, owned by Chinese national, employs over 800 workers and manufacturing the NOA-GE brand. The workplace has a WCC (Workplace Coordination Committee) but no trade union to resolve labour disputes, workers said.
“Workers who returned late were told they would not receive pay for the ten-day holiday period after the Thingyan holiday break from April 12 to April 22," said one worker.
"Current violations include excessive production targets, with over 20 workers per sewing line required to produce 30 garments per hour, while each worker sews 3 to 4 points. Supervisors shout workers' names in meetings if the set targets are not met. Workers are forced to work overtime from 8 PM to 12 midnight every other day if targets are not achieved," the worker added.
Workers expressed concerns about safety as they have to return home late at night without proper transportation after working until midnight.
"Further violations include treating new skilled workers as trainees and only paying them 'C' level rates, reducing their wages, and continuing to employ daily helpers without permanent contracts even after three months," the worker said.
The current wage structure includes a basic daily wage plus subsidies totaling 9,500 kyats, attendance bonus at 30,000 kyats, skilled wage for Grade A at 50,000 kyats, Grade B at 30,000 kyats, Grade C at 25,000 kyats, and Grade D at 20,000 kyats. Missing a workday results in wage downgrading and loss of daily wages, workers reported.
The wage is 6,500 kyats for daily workers, but missing a single day can lead to deductions of over 30,000 kyats, causing significant losses.
Besides the lack of leave rights, workers are also suffering from wage deductions for overtime delays and threats of forced resignation if they request gate passes, highlighting their call for urgent reforms from the responsible authorities.
"New workers are also having their previous factory wages delayed and overtime fees deducted based on time gaps. They are threatened with immediate dismissal the next day for requesting a gate pass," another worker said.
Regarding these ongoing workplace rights violations, workers have also submitted a formal complaint to the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM).
According to the workers’ demands:
- To grant workers the right to enjoy their entitled leave days.
- Not to dismiss workers who request gate passes.
- To confirm workers as permanent employees after completing three months.
- Not to force workers into overtime until midnight and must arrange transportation if overtime work is required.
- Supervisors must not verbally abuse workers.
- To not impose excessive production targets on workers.
