By Yoon Sat - Feb 13, 2025
A worker with over six years of experience from GTIG Guohua Glory Co., Ltd Garment Factory, located in Watayar Industrial Zone, Wun Suang Mhu Road, Shwe Pyi Thar Township, Yangon is still being denied medical coverage for a workplace injury, according to reports.
The worker fell from a factory ferry truck and sustained a head injury on July 22, 2023, at 4:30 PM, during the end of a work shift,
The factory refused to grant medical leave or take responsibility for the worker’s treatment despite them deducting social security contributions from workers' wages, only calculating compensation as a percentage of the injury without fully covering the medical expenses, failing to acknowledge its liability for an accident that occurred inside the workplace, and not taking responsibility despite Bestseller brand representatives being inside the factory, according to STUM (a labor rights group).
The injured worker was only granted leave, while the necessary medical treatment was denied based on a partial compensation calculation, and the worker underwent surgery and continues to require monthly hospital visits, yet the employer still refuses to cover medical expenses.
This case highlights a lack of accountability by the employer, who refuses to take responsibility for workplace injuries, and despite GTIG Guohua Glory manufacturing garments for well-known brands such as Bestseller, United Colors of Benetton, and Vero Moda, none of these companies have taken action regarding the injured worker’s case, and labor rights groups continue to advocate for the injured worker, demanding proper compensation and medical coverage.
The factory owner has failed to ensure fair treatment by denying the worker access to proper medical care and legal social benefits, and after the worker was denied further medical leave, on February 6, the case was brought to Shwe Pyi Thar Social Security Office, where when asked about the issue, the office head reportedly responded: "There are no more leave options left. No additional leave can be granted, and nothing else can be done."
As a result, on February 8, the injured worker returned to work, but was then forced by the HR department to sign a statement of “Agreeing to take full responsibility for anything happen in the workplace”, and the worker refused to sign and protested against the unfair treatment.
