By Hsu Latt Phuy - Apr 13, 2024
Workers from U Ta Yout Street, Shwe Lin Van Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township said that the factory is violating their labor rights. The mentioned factory is owned by a Chinese national and manufacturing prenatal brands with around 1,200 workers.
There is no trade union in the factory to address the workplace disputes and the factory formed a workplace coordination committee but the members are unknown.. Among the 1200 workers in the factory, more than 400 of them daily workers. Some workers have worked for more than 8 months to 1 year; however, the factory has not designated them as permanent workers. Although the daily workers receive the same daily wages as other workers, they are not entitled to any leaves and social security benefits.
“More than 400 workers are day laborers but they are not designated as permanent stuffs. So, although they get paid the same daily wages, they will not get paid on day offs and public holidays. They can’t contribute to social security memberships and they don’t have medical leaves and benefits. They got paid only for the days they worked. It makes them cost a lot as they don’t get paid for Thingyan holidays,” said a worker who don’t want to be named.
The working hours are from 8 AM to 7:30 PM. The factory requests fabric beyond the workers’ producitivity. They ask for 80 quality fabrics per hour on one machine line, which employs 60 people. The supervisors verbally abuse towards them for not finishing the fabric, which makes them having difficulties in the workplace.
“Chinese technicians fire the workers they do not like. The Chinese are directly managing the factory, and the workers do not even have time to go to the toilet. As the employer pay bonus to the supervisors to oppress the workers the supervisors are following those orders straightly. But we have to tolerate due to our livelihoods,” the worker continued.
The supervisors charge between 2000 and 3000 kyats per month from the workers to buy medicine and other janitorial equipments. Workers assume it is exploiting from them.
“Although there is a Workers' Central Committee (WCC) in the factory, we do not know who they are. Its far away for addressing the disputes,” the workers said.
, daily wages are cut by 5800 kyats and an attendance fee of 20000 kyats for a single day off as they are not entitled to legal medical and casual leaves. Gate pass is not granted even for health issues and those who are not convenient with the supervisors are also dismissed for absents..
The workers’ appeal are -
1. To approve the appointment of employees with more than 8 months of experience.
2. To not charge workers to buy medicine.
3. To not charge workers to buy brooms and shovels used in the workplace.
4. To allow employees to enjoy medical leave and casual leave.
5. The foreigners (Chinese) to not manage them directly and not to dismiss without any mistake.
6. The supervisors not to verbally abuse the workers.
