By Ma Ma - Feb 27, 2025
Workers from the Chinese national-owned Saiform International Garment Myanmar factory say they are facing labor rights violations, including monthly wage deductions under the pretext of payroll miscalculations. The factory’s cutting department supervisors deduct varying amounts from workers' salaries every month, and despite being aware of the issue, factory management has taken no action, workers report.
The factory, located in Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone on Min Gyi Maha Min Khaung Road, employs over 1,700 workers.
Although a Workplace Coordinating Committee (WCC) has been formed, there is no trade union in the workplace, and labor rights violations continue to occur.
“The supervisor from the cutting department claims there were payroll miscalculations and deducts money from workers' wages every month. They deduct 25,000 to 27,000 kyats if a worker earns 500,000 kyats. Those with lower salaries also have amounts deducted accordingly. Workers are told that payroll calculations are done by the office when they question it. Each worker had 16,500 kyats deducted just last January. The factory owners and office staff are aware of this, but they do nothing. Workers are treated unfairly and even fired under false accusations if they complain. Every month, the factory distributes monthly performance bonuses after payday. However, the supervisors take a portion of these bonuses based on their preference. They give higher amounts to workers they favor and reduce or withhold bonuses from those they dislike. Sometimes, they even claim that bonuses were mistakenly given and demand the money back. Anyone who questions this are told to leave the job. The supervisors say, ‘You can complain anywhere you want, but nothing will change.’ Workers are fined 2,000 kyats each time if they made a mistake, even though such penalties are not part of the factory’s official regulations. The money deducted from workers is taken by the supervisors themselves,” said a worker at the factory.
Although official working hours are set from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM, workers say they are frequently required to work overtime until 9:30 PM, with mandatory early morning and late-night shifts. Workers receive a daily wage of 4,800 kyats, a subsidy of 5,200 kyats (totaling 10,000 kyats), an attendance bonus of 40,000 kyats, and other allowances. Overtime wages are calculated at 2,200 kyats per hour.
“Production targets are set higher than what workers can realistically achieve, and supervisors constantly pressure them. Taking leave is extremely difficult, even for urgent matters. Experienced workers are often denied leave and they must wait two months after reaching their leave quota before they are granted paid leave. Sick leave requests are often met with scolding even with a medical certificate.
Basic ailments like stomachaches or dizziness, no medication is available although the factory has a clinic and a nurse. Instead, the nurse sells lottery tickets and snacks inside the factory without facing any consequences. The clinic is staged to appear functional when inspections take place, but in reality, it is not. There are also issues with restroom facilities. Workers do not have enough toilets, and the existing ones are so dirty that they are unusable, yet management does nothing to improve them,” a worker explained.
Factory workers have contacted the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) to seek assistance in addressing these labor rights violations.
They are demanding that the cutting department supervisors return the deducted wages, stop unfair salary cuts and verbal abuse, ensure transparency in distributing bonuses, and allow workers to take their legally entitled leave without difficulty. They also want medical leave requests to be granted without reprimands, proper medication to be stocked in the clinic, and the nurse to be held accountable for inappropriate conduct, the restrooms to be properly maintained and increased in number, overtime work to be voluntary, and production targets to be set at achievable levels.
