By Ma Ma - Mar 04, 2025
Workers who are suspected of reporting labour rights violations were interrogated for at least three hours each at Fitex (Myanmar) Garment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Factory management also inspected workers' phones without permission and pressured them to resign, according to factory workers.
The factory, owned by an Chinese national, is located at the corner of Yaw Atwin Wun U Phoe Hlaing Road and U Aung Thu Road, near Shwe Lin Ban Hospital, Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township. It operates with nearly 800 workers and has no trade union, only a Workplace Coordination Committee (WCC).
The factory manufacture brands such as FSBN, SMOG, AMISU, Macron, and Ikka, and has been accused of rights violations.
"Foreigners, interpreters, Myanmar managers, supervisors, and leaders have been disrespecting the workers. News about this was posted on the Myanmar Labour News page on February 21. After the news broke, the factory's managers, supervisors, and leaders suspected that workers from lines they disliked had leaked information. They called these workers into the office for interrogation. They confiscated workers' phones, deleted the factory's name, and humiliated them during the inspections. Workers who had previously demanded their rights were targeted and pressured to resign. Groups of workers were interrogated individually, with each worker being questioned for at least three hours. They were pressured to confess and not allowed to leave the office until they did so. Phones were inspected without consent. Workers were threatened with lawsuits and imprisonment. They were interrogated like criminals and intimidated. Some workers resigned because they could no longer endure the pressure," said a factory worker.
Discrimination is rampant in the workplace. Supervisors and those who bring in workers or are related to them receive promotions and salary increases, while long-term workers are denied promotions and are instead pressured to meet demands.
"Working hours are officially from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM, but overtime is common, often extending until 9:00 PM. Workers are not asked if they want to work overtime; the factory manager forces them to do so. The factory was closed on February 12 and 13, and workers were made to work on Sunday, February 9, as a substitute. Workers' preferences are ignored, and the factory opens and closes as it pleases. Currently, overtime is extended until 9:00 PM or even midnight if production targets are not met. Workers are not allowed to call their families during overtime, and their phones are confiscated. Some parents, worried about their children, have come to the factory. Workers are transported by ferry, often arriving home after 10:00 PM after work. It's midnight by the time they cook and eat,. Yet, they must return to work early the next morning. Workers who request leave for health or family reasons are never granted it easily. They must argue to get it," said another factory worker.
Workers have contacted the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) for assistance in resolving these violations. They are calling for effective action against the factory owner, managers, HR, supervisors, and leaders who are suppressing workers and violating labor and human rights.
