By Hsu Latt Phyu - Nov 12, 2024
Nearly 3,000 workers from HANDA (YANGON) GARMENT CO., LTD, located in the Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone at U Shwe Win Road, Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon are staging a protest to demand fair treatment in the workplace regarding being paid only 1,200 kyats per hour for overtime and 1,400 kyats per hour for work until 8 p.m. Additionally, they face excessive production targets, denial of legally entitled leave, and verbal abuse in the workplace.
A worker explained, "The main reason we're protesting is that we’re not receiving our legal entitlements in the workplace, and the overtime pay is only 1,200 kyats per hour. That’s why so many workers have come together to demand fair treatment."
Currently, the factory’s wage structure includes a daily allowance of 7,800 kyats, overtime pay at 1,200 kyats per hour, and a regular pay rate of 20,000 kyats. However, workers report that their wages are lower than those in other factories and are insufficient to cover basic expenses like rent. Despite working standard overtime of 2 hours, they are only paid 1,200 kyats per hour and 1,400 kyats per hour if they work until 8 p.m. or later. Due to the low overtime rate, workers have decided to protest.
The factory’s output demands are set at 200 to 250 pieces per hour per worker, with each worker expected to complete 4 to 5 points at the same time. However, if workers do not meet these targets, they are sometimes required to work unpaid overtime on Sundays until 8 p.m. to meet the quotas.
"If we refuse to work overtime, the line supervisors verbally abuse us in front of everyone. Both male and female workers are publicly shamed, leading many to quit out of embarrassment. We don’t receive any leave benefits, and the supervisors are now threatening workers involved in the protest, saying they’ll retaliate if we continue," an worker who don’t want to be named shared.
The workers’ demands are:
- The factory to increase the overtime pay rate and standardize it.
- The factory to grant workers their entitled leave.
- The factory to raise the ticket fee.
- Supervisors and line leaders to stop verbally abusing workers.
