By Min Ni Kyaw - Jul 29, 2024

Workers from Tristate Myanmar Co,.LTD garment factory which located at Pyin Ma Pin Industrial Zone, Mingalar Done Township, Yangon said that they are having to work on public holidays and weekly days off.

“Workers don’t want to work on Martyrs’ Day but the manager forced us to sign and work, saying that they can bribe the labor office,” the workers said.

The workers said that they worked on 4 Sundays in July and have no day off. It is reported that they are suffering from health effects and some workers miscarried as they have to work overtime for 3 hours every day and not being entitled to a holiday. The workers said that they are not allowed to take leave for health issues and the factory cut their salary and benefits if they do.

“Workers’ health are harmed for working overtime everyday and not having a day off. Some workers miscarried. A worker have to resigned as she doesn’t get medical leave. Daily wages and attendance bonus are cut for absent. These are the loss for the workers,” they said.

The workers said they were humiliated because the supervisors said hurtful things if they don’t work overtime. Too much overtime and no rest days cause the workers to harm in terms of health and socially.

"I've been working all week and my whole body aches. I want to rest a day. I am also afraid of being scolded in public. I can't do housework or anything for the children," a worker said.

The Tristate Myanmar factory has been reported in Myanmar Labour News every year since 2022 for forcing the workers to work on public holidays and weekend holidays. In 2023, a veteran worker was fired and the case was resolved at the township labor office. Among the factory’s data obtained by Myanmar Labor News, it was found that overtime laws and directives were violated as overtime was called for a total of more than 80 hours in one month.

It is known that OTTO, Spider, New Look, Nautica, Max Mara and Cp brands are manufactured in the factory including M&S which has left Myanmar