By Hsu Latt Phyu - Aug 29, 2024
According to the workers from Dongxin Garment Co.,Ltd which locates at No -, Nawaday Road, Industrial Zone 3, Hlaing Thar Yar (Eastern) Township, the factory is continuously abusing their rights.
The workers said that the violations covers forced overtime, discrimination of the supervisors, sexual exploitation of Chinese experts, unsanitary toilets and pressurizing against their consents.
The factory started to operate at industrial Zone 5, Hlaing Thar Yar and moved to industrial Zone 3 on October 21, 2022 and currently manufacturing FieldCore, BURTLE, LUC ,TIGORA and CORDURA.
On September 11, 2023, three workers from the factory were selected and appointed as representatives of Workplace Coordination Committee (WCC). One of the representative intervened and helped solve workers' workplace problems and they were dismissed without committing any mistake and the case has been complaint at the arbitration council level to resolve the grievance.
On July 15, 2024, the unfair dismissal was reported to the Department of Labour Relations and since no settlement was found, the complaint was filed with the arbitration panel. On 21.8.2024, the arbitration panel ordered the employer to pay compensation to the employee based on years of service. But the dismissed worker who is not satisfied with the decision said that they will report to the arbitration council as well.
There is no changes in the workplace although the Labour officers inspected the factory. The workers said that the day laborers are hired without having employment contract, medicines are not sufficiently provided in the workplace and workers have to front their money for workplace accessories.
“I have been working for nearly 1 year. There are many things I found inconvenient. They force us to wear employer cards these days. The manager said that we have to buy new scissors ourselves,” a worker said.
They stopped calling all night overtimes currently. For me, I never work. They usually complaint if we didn’t but not for now,” said a worker.
“New WCC members are appointed. There had been 2 times reformation in a month since I worked here. This is caused by appointing those without knowledge and education as representatives only by the consent of the employer,” said a female worker.
“The HR said that the attendance bonus will be cut if we take for 8 hours gate pass within a month. They really did as well. We decided that we will take legal processes if they cut again in this month,” said a worker.
The factory doesn’t have good reputation since then. It have social issues as well. The workers who are considered clever and active are monitored by the superiors and the acquittances even during the dinning time,” said a worker.
The workers stated that the workplace is not secure and have dignity but they are continue working due to lack of employment and the seamstresses are also having concerns regarding their reputation.
