By Min Ni Kyaw - Jun 09, 2024
Workers from Great Summer garment factory said that their health conditions are getting worse as they are having to work 7 hours continuously and can’t bring their medicines to the factory.
The factory is owned by a Chinese national and located at the Anawrahta Street, Anawrahta Industrial Zone and it was changed to the current name from the old name Cherry Apparel Myanmar.
“The name was changed in the beginning of this year. Over times are called until 7:00 starting this month. Some workers are fainted and suffer health issues for working 7 hours continuously. Some workers who have gastric have a lot of difficulties and they have to cure themselves a lot as they can’t even have a snack in the factory,” said a factory worker.
The working hours are from 8:00 am to 7:30 pm including 2 hours of overtime. Great Summer Myanmar Garment workers are working 7 hours continuously from 12:30 to 7:30 without a break.
The workers are warned and have to sign a warning and intimidated for bringing outside foods and medicines into the factory.
“A female worker attempted to take a pill in 6:00 pm on June 6 according to her doctor’s prescription but the security intimidated that they will take a picture of her taking pills and report the factory and the female worker missed her dose. Workers are suffering from excessive overtime. There is a medic-clinic in the factory but there is no medicines in the clinic. That make worse,” said the workers.
They are not allowed to take leave for health and social issues. They are labeled as absent for missing a day and it cost three times pay cut of daily wages and other benefits as well, a worker explained.
“Attendance bonus 15,000 kyats is cut for any type of leave. Medical leave is not allowed too. Grade bonus and daily wages are cut as well if we miss more than a day. Therefore, we have to work even if we are ill. It cost around 50,000 kyats for us to visit a clinic,” a worker explained.
Great Summer garment factory is operating with 13 cavities and around 1,000 workers. There is a workplace coordination committee in the factory. The factory is manufacturing shirts and jean pants. When it was operated with the Cherry Apparel Myanmar name, FieldCore brand pants were manufactured.
