By Min Ni Kyaw - Nov 10, 2024

#LETTER

We, the workers of HERMITE Toy and Fragrance Factory located at No. 30, Jade Street, Zone 4 of Thardukan Industrial Zone in Yangon, are being pressured to work excessive overtime hours. We’re asking for your help.

Since work resumed after the Thadingyut holiday on October 21, up until now, November 9, we’ve only had one day off on Friday, November 1. Starting from the day work resumed, we’ve been working overtime every day until 7 p.m.

On Saturday, October 6, we even had to work until 5 p.m., and on Sunday, October 27, we didn’t get any rest at all. Those who refused to work overtime were scolded by the supervisors.

From October 28 to 31, we were also forced to work overtime. When we asked to leave because it wasn’t convenient for us, we were denied permission and had to work until 9 p.m. Although we were given a 10-minute break, we ended up working until 9:10 p.m.

Most of the workers here are women, and it’s extremely unsafe to be returning home late at night. But the factory still makes us work until 8 or 9 p.m., and we don’t get any breaks even on Sundays.

Fearing that we might refuse to work overtime, the factory paid our wages on Sunday, November 3. If they hadn’t paid us on that day, they threatened to delay payment until the October 10. Because of this, we are afraid to refuse working on Sunday.

Then, on the following Monday, November 4, we were made to work until 7 p.m. again. On Tuesday, they announced that everyone would have to stay until 6 p.m., and on that day, we had to work until 8 p.m. as well. In the following days, we had to stay until 9 p.m.

Today, on Sunday, October 10, which should be a day off, we’re working again.

When they call us for overtime, they don’t ask if we’re willing or not. To make sure we’ll come, they lie to us about the terms and say that if we don’t show up, they’ll deduct our regular wages.

No one is taking responsibility to negotiate on behalf of us workers, who don’t agree with this forced work on our days off. Those of us who express disagreement are publicly scolded by the supervisors.

The workers who don’t agree to sign in for overtime are forced to do so by the leaders. We’re being overworked without proper rest, and it’s affecting our health. There’s no nurse in the factory’s clinic, so we’re not getting the medical care we need.

When the relevant authorities come to investigate, the team leaders tell the workers to lie and give misleading information. If we don’t comply, we’re threatened with the loss of our overtime shifts. They even tell us that if we don’t follow orders, the entire factory might stop offering overtime shifts.

Because of the factory’s threats, workers don’t feel safe refusing overtime, as we’re worried about not being able to make a living. This has forced us to comply with whatever the factory says.

The factory selects the workers to be questioned during inspections, and supervisors and senior officials are present, so workers are afraid to speak up honestly.

After inspections, the pressure eases for a brief period, but after about a week, they resume forcing us to work excessive hours.

If we’re late to work, even by a little, they deduct 30,000 kyats from our wages. Since we’re working overtime and getting little sleep, it’s easy to be late. This is an unfair penalty.

In many factories, workers are allowed a 4-hour grace period for tardiness per month, but this isn’t the case here.

Forcing us to work late and then deducting wages when we’re late the next day feels like exploiting us.

There is a WCC (Workplace Coordination Committee) in the factory, but there are no true representatives who will stand up for the workers’ issues.

No one helps us, and even if we try to report our problems, it doesn’t go anywhere. The WCC members weren’t chosen by the workers; they were appointed by the factory at their own discretion, not elected by us. We signed off on it against our will because we were pressured.

As a result, there is no one to negotiate or resolve the issues we workers face at HERMITE Factory.

We’re sincerely pleading for help and support to address these issues.