By Yoon Sat - Nov 25, 2024

Workers from ZHI YUAN GARMENT factory which located on Say Yone 1 Road, Muu Kyo Intersection, Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, said that the factory is committing labor rights violations, including physical abuse of workers and failing to fully provide the 2,000 MMK daily allowance mandated by the military council.

The factory, which employs over 700 workers and manufactures curtains and jackets, is owned by Chinese national and has been operational for less than six months. Workers report receiving a daily wage of 5,800 MMK, which includes 2,000 MMK as a daily allowance, 1,600 MMK per hour for overtime, and a monthly attendance bonus of 30,000 MMK. However, they state that the factory does not provide skill-based wages and reserves higher wages only for supervisors.

"The employer called the supervisors and said they would no longer pay overtime wages for Sunday and instead forced them to work with regular daily pay. They threatened that if Sunday work was refused, attendance bonuses would be deducted, and overtime opportunities would no longer be offered. They also threatened that supervisors would not receive grade pay. Regarding this, when workers said they would no longer work overtime, a Chinese interpreter from the employer's side physically pushed and shoved a male worker in the factory. In response to this incident, the workers staged a protest in the workplace," the workers said.

Yesterday, on November 23, 2024, the employer said that the order was urgent and called for six hours of overtime on Saturday and overtime work on Sunday. They threatened that workers who refused would have their attendance bonuses cut, would no longer receive overtime, and supervisors would not receive grade pay.

Additionally, workers reported that if they took lawful leave, the employer deducted 15,000 MMK from their attendance bonus. They also said that when workers requested gate passes due to illness, the management delayed issuing the passes and made them wait for up to an hour. On public holidays and Sundays, when a 2,000 MMK allowance is mandated, the factory only provided 1,000 MMK.

Chinese management directly oversees workers in the factory and is reported to frequently yell and verbally abuse them. Workers working overtime on Sundays are reportedly forced to work until 7:00 PM. Additionally, the factory fails to ensure proper occupational health and safety measures, with complaints of unsanitary toilets, bad odors, and broken toilet doors.

Workers stated that unattainable production targets are often imposed, and factory meetings are held during working hours or lunch breaks, disrupting their rest periods.

Due to these labor rights violations, workers staged a protest and presented the following demands:

1. To only impose output demands that workers can realistically achieve.
2. To not deduct attendance bonuses for legal leave.
3. To stop direct management and verbal abuse by Chinese nationals.
4. To ensure that gate passes are issued without difficulties for sick workers.
5. To fully provide the mandated 2,000 MMK daily allowance on public holidays and Sundays.
6. To take legal action against Chinese interpreter who physically assault workers.
7. To ensure occupational health and safety, including maintaining sanitary toilets and a safe workplace environment.
8. To follow legal procedures for calling overtime and notify workers in advance.