By Min Ni Kyaw - Nov 14, 2023
The workers said that Cherry Apparel (Myanmar) Co., Ltd garment factory forced them to sign after the Myanmar Labour News reported that the garment factory was violating the Workshops Act.
" We were asked to sign after they saw the news. At around 4:00 pm on November 13, the factory office give the typed document for the workers to sign. We had to sign there," a worker told Myanmar Labor News.
They had to sign the statement of the factory, which may has the meaning "The workers will work continuously until 6:30 pm without taking a break between work time and overtime (OT)," said that worker.
"In the letter, it was written that we are satisfied to continue without taking a break and return at 6:30 pm. It says that the one who doesn’t sign will have to work until 7 p.m.," said another factory worker.
Myanmar Labor News reported on November 13th as the Cherry Apparel (Myanmar) Co.,Ltd garment factory is violating the Workshops Act and forcing to work 6 hours continuously. One of the labor activists said that the workers were asked to sign because the factory wanted to avoid the punishment of the law.
"Even if a worker can do this 6 hours continuously, the law stipulates that they should not be forced to do so continuously. They asked to sign to avoid taking actions. But if real action would be taken, they can't avoid it anymore," said Ko Aung Thu, a labor activist.
Section 63 of the 1951 Workshops Act currently in force in Myanmar stipulates that no period shall exceed five hours determining the working period of the adult workers in the workshop on each days. Furthermore, no worker shall be made to work for more than five consecutive hours before having a rest period of at least half an hour.”
The current working hours of the Cherry Apparel (Myanmar) factory are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the workers say that they have to work 2 hours overtime every day.
Therefore, from 12:30 pm to 6:30 pm, the workers have to work 6 hours straight without a break. The workers who have to sign for various reasons say that it is not fair to work continuously without taking a break.
"In other factories, they give a break of at least 15 minutes. And finished at 6:30 pm. Overtime is only calculated for 2 hours. I'm not saying that we want to get more wages but a break. The factory does not even give full breaks during lunch break. After about 15 minutes of eating, we were driven out to go to the workplace. Think about whether it is fair or not. Scaring is also a reason we sign. As they intimidate to leave only after 7 o'clock. If we don’t sign. How would we do if they don’t provide a ferry. We are scare," a worker explained the situation of having to sign.
Cherry Apparel (Myanmar) Co., Ltd garment factory is owned by a Chinese national and operating with foreign investment. The factory is in Anawrahtar industrial zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township. Nearly 800 workers are working there and the workers said that they are manufacturing FieldCore jean fabrics.
