By Yoon Sat - Aug 12, 2024

Workers are asking for their overtime labor wages after being called overtime without being paid at the Yangon Art Materials Incorporation picture frame factory which located at Mya Yadanar Street, Mya Sein Yaung Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon.

According to the complaints, the factory is hiring the day laborers full time on Saturday without overtime wages and the minor workers are also assigned the same tasks as the adults.

“The real hardworking workers don’t get paid bonus. They pay whom they want to. They are exploiting us and demanding excessive outputs by intimidating our employment status while we are working for livelihood,” the worker expressed their feelings.

The factory is owned by a Chinese national and hires more than 1,000 workers.

 The workers also complaint that they are assigned to do tasks which are unrelated to their work such as disassembling the machines. They were also forced to move machines with manpower which should be moved by forklifts. They were also forced to move the things under the rain. The workers said that they are pressurized although they refused to do. 

The workers also said that there is no safety equipment although they are working with fumes which is dangerous for them and there is no dispensary and basic medicines in the factory.

The workers said that they worked without taking a break to finish the outputs as the employer promised them 2,000 kyats for 500 15 inch picture frames but didn’t keep their word at the end although the works fulfill the employer’s wish.

The workers are casually assigned to other departments which they are not used to. And the employer discriminate and hold grudges against the workers who can’t finish the outputs because of having to work at the department they are not proficient in. 

The workers said that their requests are –

1. To not force them to do unrelated tasks with the job

2. To give 4 hours overtime fees as the day laborers work 8 hours on Saturdays and to not call overtime without paying

3. To provide safety equipment for risky jobs

4. To let the workers work at their native department and to ask their consents before moving to other

5. To provide necessary medicines sufficiently

6. To not discriminate the workers regarding the overtime