By Ma Ma - Dec 10, 2024
Chinese national-owned SAFETY CLOTHING (Myanmar) Co., LTD garment factory had promised salaries between 400,000 to 500,000 MMK for workers who work overtime during recruitment. However, workers reported that ticket fees were deducted during payroll calculations, causing them to earn less than the promised amount, which has led to financial difficulties.
The factory is located on Mya Sabal Road, Mya Sein Yaung Industrial Zone, Yangon Region.
The factory employed over 600 workers when it initially started operating but after two months of operation, only over 200 workers remain.
Workers claim that the factory lacks a trade union and operates with numerous violations. The factory manufactures Vis Team and ROLYWRE brands.
Sewing workers are paid 7,800 MMK as daily wages and 70,000 MMK as attendance fees, while other workers are paid 6,800 MMK as daily wages and 40,000 MMK as attendance fees, as well as additional skill allowances.
However, workers said they face losses because a sewing worker have 30,000 MMK of attendance fees and 7,800 MMK of daily wages—37,800 MMK in total—deducted if they misses one day of work.
For other workers, 20,000 MMK of attendance fees and 6,800 MMK of daily wages are deducted. The entire attendance fee is cut, workers claimed if they miss two days if they miss a day of work.
“They told us during recruitment that we could earn between 400,000 and 500,000 MMK monthly if we worked two hours of overtime daily. We don’t get the salaries they said we would because they deduct ticket fees even if we meet the output demands. When workers ask about the salaries and attendance fees, they just say, ‘Take it or leave it, or we won’t pay you any attendance fees at all next time,’” said one factory worker.
It is also reported that output demands are higher than what workers can realistically achieve, and when targets aren’t met, supervisors shout and scold workers.
Additionally, workers who cannot meet targets or those who speak up against management are being dismissed without explanation.
“They’re hiring male workers to operate sewing machines, but after hiring them, they also cut them off, saying they’re reducing the workforce. They don’t provide compensation or severance pay. On December 9, the factory called a meeting and told the supervisors, team leaders, and clerks to finalize worker resignation lists and complete ongoing work. They said they won’t give the salary no matter how many days we worked if we don’t complete the work,” another worker reported.
Currently, the factory workers have contacted the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) for assistance.
The workers are demanding that the factory deliver the promised salaries as long as they meet output demands, refrain from dismissing workers without solid reasons, stop supervisors from verbal abuses and to give workers’ rights.
