By Yoon Satt - Feb 18, 2024
According to the workers, some workers from Asdet garment factory which locates in Yaw Atwin Wun U Phoe Hlaing Street, Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon region who reported about forced overtime, legal leaves and benefits abuses and physical abuses are dismissed.
“The manager said she don’t care whether we report to anywhere. Recently, the officials from the office of labor guidance came to inspect the factory but came back after they got under table paid. Most of the day laborers are fired and some of them have years of service,” said the activist who is supporting the workers.
The dismissed workers do not have EC contract and they worked with a 2 month contract. They are dismissed after reporting for labor right abuses but they did not get paid damages and other benefits as they are day laborers although they have served for years.
Most of the male workers are only hired as day laborers and those who don’t work overtime are cut for attendance bonus and other bonuses. The day laborers are fired without any strong reason. And the 2 month contract of them is not a legal employment contract one but just on the paper.
The workers have to elect 5 WCC representatives but the WCC is only assigned to sign the factory’s decision. They are being called for illegal all night and all light overtime recently.
The working hours are from 7:30 to 18:00 and the overtime are until midnight, until dawn on Saturdays and also forced to work on Sundays and public holidays. The workers inform the supers, all supers and leaders that they are exhausted of overtime but the supers and all supers said that they don’t need to work there anymore if they refuse to work overtime. Those who complaint are moved to other departments and also treated badly.
As they reported the labor office, the all supers went furious on the next day and told that they would fire the worker who reported. The manager Daw Ei Ei Phyu called 5 workers in a session on January 25, and pressured them to confirm that they work overtime with their consents and the workers confirmed as they afraid.
The overtime are only calculated until 20:15 and all night, all light and Sunday and public holiday overtimes are paid with 1,400 kyats per hour on the next days. The overtime are not included in the salary voucher.
The workers want both the officials of Asdet and the government departments to resolve effectively regarding the abuses.
The factory is a Chinese national owned factory which is operating with around 6oo workers and manufacturing CHANGE, esmaea (LIDL) and Footmael brands shirts and bras. It is also known that there is no trade union in the factory.
