By Min Ni Kyaw - Apr 07, 2025

#LETTER

Yoyika Garment Factory, located at the Mu Kyo Junction in Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaing Tharyar Township, has been consistently enforcing mandatory overtime (OT), workers report.

Employees are required to work OT until 8 PM daily, and this has been ongoing for about seven months. We have been told to work until 8 PM as a substitution for the upcoming Thingyan holidays starting last Saturday. This includes working Sundays as well. We are summoned to the factory office and confronted if we refuse.

We are not excused even when we are unwell. We continue working of fear of reprimand. Sick leave requests are routinely denied.

The management claims attendance is voluntary when it comes to workplace meetings. However, in reality, workers who don’t attend are still called in and spoken to.

Many workers took cover under their sewing tables out of fear on the day of the recent earthquake. The tremors had not subsided but the factory owner forced them to continue working. We were also required to work until 8 PM that day instead of being released early at 6 PM.

Some workers unable to endure the excessive OT, contacted the labour office. However, no inspection followed. Occasionally, the factory allows early leave at 6 PM for a day or two, only to resume mandatory work until 8 PM shortly after.

We kindly request your assistance.

#Information – Reports of labour rights violations at Yoyika Garment were documented in 2023 and 2024. The factory has manufactured brands such as Natural Plus, As-Ideal, LIVADES, Laskikaru, Sinsay, and Little Kids.