By Hsu Latt Phyu - Oct 14, 2024

Workers from Chinese national owned BEST GARMENT (LAOS) CO.LTD which locates at Kan 3 region, Vientiane, Laos hires more than 400 Myanmar workers and violating their rights and workers are seeking for help,

It is learnt that workers are seeking help from Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar – IWFM for labour right abuses and dismissing the worker who tells truth about the workplace conditions to the audit.

There is no trade union in the factory and the factory is manufacturing TCHIBO CERTIFIED MERCHANDISE brands apparels.

Myanmar workers were advertised to get paid 250 USD with free rent and meals but got paid only 150 USD in reality.

“They said that the reason we get paid less is because we don’t hit the output demands targets. Supervisors asks 1,400 garment pieces a day for a production with 18 people and we have to work overtime for free until 9:00 pm as well as on Sundays if we don’t finish the demands,” the worker explained.

Workers are only entitled to what the factory allowed and only Laos nationals are allowed to drink cool water but the Myanmar nationals are not.

“They allow us, Myanmar nationals to drink hot water only to prevent us to go restroom rapidly. Workers suffer kidney problems and a worker who had work for 11 months suffering Kidney problem but still working here as they can’t afford compensation to resign,” worker said.

Workers were told they can go back to Myanmar after working for 1 year without compensation and the social security fees will be return with percentage but in reality, workers have to pay compensation for going back to Myanmar for every reasons.

Workers are cut for 150,000 kyats for taking leave a day for any reasons with or without medical and social security certificates. Workers have to contribute more than 800,000 kyats per month.

“There are many difficulties. Employer said social security will be return with percentage if we go back to Myanmar for any reasons including health issues after working for a year although the contract is signed to 3 years. Workers who can’t handle anymore resigned by paying the compensations but the workers who can’t afford are tolerating and continue working,” said a worker who don’t wanted to be named.

The workers who told the truth about the free overtime recruitments and salary doesn’t match with the advertisement on job vacancy were fired.

Workers are requesting the following terms for the sake of a safe and secure workplace

1.       To allow the worker with kidney problem to go back to Myanmar

2.     To allow Myanmar workers to drink cool water

3.      To not cut for social security leave

4.     To not recruit free overtime