Myo Thein
#Letter
Please allow me to share my experience.
I am a worker at the Godzilla mosquito coil and soap factory.
The factory is located in Cherry Street, Shwepyitha Industrial Zone 1.
For the officially announced Christmas public holidays on December 25, 26, 27, and 28, the factory only closed for one day (Thursday). On Friday and Saturday, the factory claimed those were normal working days and forced us to come to work.
If we do not work on Saturday, they threaten to deduct wages for two days, including Sunday. At this factory, we are forced to work overtime on every government public holiday. If we refuse, managers call us to the office and threaten to fire us.
Although they force us to work overtime continuously, the overtime pay is only 1,200 kyats per hour.
For Sunday work, we are paid only 9,600 kyats, and the same 9,600 kyats is paid even on public holidays. In other factories, overtime is paid 2,100 to 2,500 kyats per hour, but at our factory, wages have not been increased at all and are still paid at 2021 rates.
Previously, when we took social security medical leave, we received payment. Now, even if we submit an official medical leave letter, we receive nothing. This factory commits many labor rights violations and does not pay fair wages. Workers are constantly oppressed.
When we ask for a salary increase, the only response we get is: “If you don’t want to work, leave.”
We do not receive attendance bonuses, skill bonuses, or annual bonuses. This is how we continue to suffer violations. Because times are difficult, workers are enduring and continuing to work.
We receive no benefits at all for emergency leave or service leave. Even if leave is approved on paper, the benefits for that leave are deducted. As a result, we lose around 15,000 kyats per day.
Only supervisors, warehouse managers, and department heads receive salary increases. Ordinary workers at the bottom, even those with three, four, or five years of service, never receive increases beyond the basic wage. There are many workers in this situation.
Factory workers are also sent to the Speed beverage factory inside Zaygabar Compound in Mingaladon to load containers of soft drinks, condensed milk, and coffee products. We have to work there under the hot sun and rain, without protection. If we refuse, we are fired. No labor rights or labor regulations are followed.
Workers are too afraid to speak out about these violations. The factory owner is said to be connected to the Ministry of Home Affairs, so workers remain silent out of fear.
