By Ma Ma - Feb 19, 2025
Workers from THA SHU (MYANMAR) Fashion Co., Ltd, report facing multiple labor rights violations, and management is threatening them by stating that complaints can be filed anywhere, but the factory will still have control over the outcome.
The factory, owned by a Chinese national, is located on Min Aya Road in Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone.
With nearly 850 workers, the factory manufactures mont-bell brand. There is no labor union within the workplace, and only a Worker Coordinating Committee (WCC) has been established.
“Pregnant workers are dismissed under various pretexts. They are forced to work the same as everyone else, without any considerations. Management says that since they are being paid, they must work equally, and if they can’t, they should quit. They are not granted the rights that pregnant workers are entitled to. They set up a clinic and a nurse whenever there is an inspection, but when we actually get sick, there are no medicines available. Even short rest breaks are not allowed. They simply tell a worker not to come back the next day if they don’t like. They are told they can report it anywhere, but it won’t change anything if workers complain. New workers are hired to replace those who were dismissed the next day. Production targets are also unreasonable and we are shouted at and insulted if we fail to meet them. The production manager curses loudly throughout the entire factory. They tell anyone they don’t like to leave. They even claim they have settled everything with the authorities,” said a factory worker.
The standard working hours are from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM, with an official two-hour overtime limit.
However, the factory has been extending overtime until 8:00 PM without proper arrangements. Despite this, the WCC (workplace coordination committee) does not intervene but instead approves the overtime requests from factory management.
“Workers who resign are supposed to receive their wages by the 10th of the following month, but the factory does not pay them on time. They make workers wait in the sun all day, only to tell them at 3:30 PM to come back another day. They keep rescheduling payments. The management puts on a show, making it seem like everything is fine whenever the Ministry of Labour sends inspectors, but the reality inside the factory is completely different. No real assistance is provided to struggling workers,” said another worker.
Due to these workplace violations, factory workers have sought assistance from the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM).
Workers demand that pregnant workers and all employees be granted full labor rights, the abusive managers responsible for verbal harassment and mistreatment be held accountable and removed from their positions, the factory clinic be properly stocked with medicines, and sick workers be granted appropriate rest time, unjust dismissals be stopped, and those who voluntarily resign receive their salaries on time by the 10th of the following month, only reasonable production targets be set, and management refrain from verbal abuse and excessive pressure.
