By Hsu Latt Phyu - Oct 12, 2024
Workers from MENGYUE GARMENT Co.,ltd garment factory said that the factory is violating them by asking for excessive fabric outputs and forcing free overtime.
The factory locates at Mya Taung Wun Gyi U Moo Road, Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon region and manufacturing Japan ordered PALLTEX brands chef outfits, rain coat and long pants with more than 100 workers. It is owned by a Chinese national.
It is said that there is no trade union and a Chinese national man and woman factory managers are directly managing the workers and both of them and the interpreters are verbally abusing the workers making them to feel humiliated in the workplace.
Workers are asked for fabric outputs that lines beyond their productivity such as 30 outfits and 35 pants per hour for each line with 30 workers. They are asked for much more output even if they finish those excessive output by working nonstop.
“They increase the fabric output even if we finish after working nonstop. We can’t finish the new demands they ask so we have to work overtime on Sunday for free nearly every week,” a worker explained.
The factory doesn’t provide sufficient drinking water and forcing underage workers as adults without medical certificates.
Workers are cut for 4,800 kyats daily wages, 4,000 kyats subsidy and 30,000 kyats attendance bonus because of not being allowed to take medical and casual leave.
“There are workplace incidents in this factory. A worker’s hand was cut off as they were hired as packing job but assigned to do snapping. The employer doesn’t take responsibility and accountability,” a worker explained.
Daily wage 6,800 kyats, attendance bonus (2000+2000) kyats and overtime fees 1,400 kyats per hour is advertised as the salary but workers only get paid daily wages 4,800 kyats when they resigned; causing rapid disputes.
Workers are demanding the following terms to become a safe and digit workplace.
1. To allow legal leaves for workers
2. To take responsibility and accountability for workplace injuries
3. To ask only for possible fabric outputs
4. The Chinese national manager to not directly manage the workers
5. The Chinese nationals from employer’s side to not verbally abuse the workers
