By Ma Ma - Dec 14, 2024
Chinese-owned Mai Yi Bei Garment Manufacturing Co., Ltd, located in Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, has been accused of denying employees their legally entitled leave. Workers report that those who take leave are forced to make up for missed work under an "extra workload system," with termination threatened after three infractions.
This factory employs over 1,200 workers and produces garments for brands such as ORIGINAL MARINES and ALCOTT. However, labor rights violations, including the absence of any labor union representation, are prevalent in the workplace.
“Workers who take a day off due to illness or other reasons are made to work extra hours to make up for it. They say that if, they’ll terminate our employment we miss three days. They don’t allow maternity leave either. We lose 30,000 MMK if you miss a single day of work, and workers who resign from the factory are not given full compensation. For example, they only pay 6,800 MMK instead of the full amount owed," said one factory worker.
Workers at the factory are paid a daily rate of 7,800 MMK, which includes daily wages and subsidies. Overtime is paid at 1,500 MMK per hour, and workers receive a weekly bonus of 10,000 MMK for full attendance.
Within the workplace, excessive output demands are being demanded, and workers who fail to meet these targets are reportedly forced to work overtime on night shifts, overnight shifts, and even on Sundays without pay.
“They demand unattainable output demands. They expect over 40 completed garments per hour in a production line with more than 60 workers. Supervisors and line managers shout and use harsh language when the targets aren’t met. The ferry service is also inadequate, and when issues arise, the factory management does nothing to resolve them. Workers must swipe their ID cards at the beginning and end of their shifts, but the swipe machines are poorly managed, causing delays. The toilets are also unsanitary, and the doors are in poor condition,” the worker added.
The factory is also accused of employing many underage workers without requiring health clearance from doctors. During labor inspections, these underage workers are reportedly asked to stay home to avoid detection.
The Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) has been contacted by workers seeking assistance with these workplace violations.
Currently, workers are seeking the enforcement of legally mandated leave entitlements, the cessation of verbal abuse and harsh treatment from supervisors and managers when demanding output targets, solutions to inadequate ferry transportation, the establishment of realistic production targets that workers can meet, full payment of wages to workers who leave their jobs and for an end to being forced to work overtime during night shifts, overnight shifts, and on Sundays without pay.
