By Yoon Sat - Sep 30, 2024

According to the workers and activists it is learnt that more than 400 workers are being violated at Bohua Fashion garment factory which located at Bamaw Atwin Wun Street, Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon region.

The Chinese national owned factory is manufacturing mimibala, SEM/R, TOREVD and TOREAD THE WORLD brand apparels with more than 400 workforces. There is no trade union in the factory. 

More than 400 workers at the factory are having difficulties of not having enough spaces, emergency exist, sufficient dinning place and employment contracts. Only veteran workers have employment contract but the employer didn’t give them a copy. There are only four gender classified restrooms and they are not sanitary and there is no dispensary and medicines in the factory.

Around 100 day laborers are hired and some of them are not appointed as permanent  stuffs even after working for nearly 2 years. Those workers are dismissed illegally when the employer don’t need them and rehired as new workers.

“Almost every worker at snap, iron and packing departments are day laborers. Underage workers usually sick after working unfair tasks with their ages,” said a worker.

A production line with 45 people are asked for 40 garments per hour which exceeds than their productivity. The demanded garments are also difficult to make but the Chinese national lady verbally abuse the workers if the demands are not finished.

Workers have to work from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm although the official working hours are from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm according to job vacancy. Workers are working from 4 to 5 hours of overtime per day while the HR is suppressing them in order of their job stability.

The manufacturing brands are ordered by other factories and workers said that they witnessed factory’s officials said that “We don’t care about being reported. We are doing business here because we don’t fear anyone.”

The workers’ demands are –

1.       To ask only for possible fabric outputs

2.     The Chinese national factory manager lady to not verbally abuse them for not finishing the employer’s output demands

3.      To not force overtime until 9:00 p,.

4.     To provide maintenance for the restrooms

5.     To give a copy of employment contracts to them

6.     To appoint workers with more than 1 year of service as permanent stuffs

7.     To provide medicines in the factory