By Yoon Sat - Dec 11, 2024
According to a report by Federation of General Workers Myanmar - FGWM, underage workers at the Chinese-owned San Yu Garment Factory near Banmaw U Tway Inn Road in Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon, are being forced to work overtime without receiving additional pay.
Workers revealed that coercion and pressure are used to demand overtime work. They are threatened with dismissal if they refuse to work overtime.
“The factory manager hires underage workers at low wages without granting them any other entitlements if the orders are urgent. When the orders are completed, they are dismissed without pay or compensation under the excuse that they are underage just by a notice letter. This has happened not just once but repeatedly whenever important orders come in,” workers stated.
The factory has been forcing underage workers to work without paying overtime and has made them perform excessive amounts of work. Beginning in October this year, workers have also been dismissed without explanation, according to worker testimonies.
“Male staff members were dismissed without pay under the claim that they smoked near the workplace, even during their lunch break, which is their personal time and they just smoked in front of the toilet. The usual Saturday overtime shift ends at 4:30 p.m., but now it extends to 5:30 p.m. Supervisors and office staff are pressuring workers to continue, saying this is mandatory and cannot be refused,” workers reported.
The workers also disclosed that the dining area is too cramped, forcing some employees to eat their meals on uneven pavements nearby.
Although the factory initially promised a daily wage of 7,800 kyats, it only provides 6,800 kyats to day laborers. Moreover, no overtime pay is provided for Saturday shifts, they said.
The workers at the factory are requesting that the relevant brands and responsible authorities immediately address the difficulties and grievances they are facing. They have sought assistance from the Federation of General Workers Myanmar - (FGWM) to resolve the situation.
The factory is manufacturing Sinsay and ENCUENTRO.
