By Citizen Journalists Oct 13, 2024
Workers from General Textile garment factory said that they are forced to work substitute on Saturday for Thadingyut Holidays. Furthermore, the factory recruits them overtime until 12:00 am on Sunday and weekdays.
“The pay day 5th day of month was Saturday. We had to work half day on that day for substitute. We have to work mid night overtime on Sundays and weekdays as well,” a worker explained.
It is learnt that workers are allowed to have dinner only for 30 minutes only after working until 6:30 pm. The overtime is non stop from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am and they return home at 4:00 am in the morning.
Workers had to sleep unproperly on the floors and desks at the factory after overtime and they also faced incest problems as the factory turned off lights and fans.
“We don’t get enough sleep after going back home at 4:00 am as we need to comeback on time for the next morning. We all are tired for consecutive mid-night overtimes. We want to rest on Sundays even if the orders are important. They said they will call overtime on October 14 and 15 as well,” a worker explained their difficulties.
Workers said that they are facing health issues due to not getting enough time to rest. The ministry directed to pay 1,000 kyats subsidy in August but the factory delayed for a month.
“We don’t get 30,000 kyats subsidy for August and get paid only in September. Still we don’t get paid for Sundays. We get paid only 26,000 kyats,” a worker said.
On August 1, 2024, the ministry of labour instructed the factories to pay a new 1,000 kyats subsidy starting in the first week of August.
General textile garment factory locates at Inn Lyat Village, Mawbe Township and hires around 700 workers. The factor is owned by a Chinese national and only a WCC is present but there is no trade union.
There are two buildings in the factory’s compound and shares the entrance with the other factory; Hengda garment.
