"At SEN YU Garment, they are threatening to be fired and are hiring excessively", 31 August 2023

SEN YU Garment factory workers say that they are having a hard time because they are constantly being forced to work overtime...for order reasons, and they are [firing] them if they refuse.

Normal working hours are from Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm, and on Saturdays I have to go down until 6:30 pm and there are some who go down until 7:30 pm.

The workers said that [they are]...[called to] meetings during breaks, [working] [overtime] overnight...without stopping, and having to leave frequently [because of] health problems.

According to the workers, the...factory, which operates with more than 600 workers at the garment factory, [and] was opened at the 53 Bus Terminal, Van Maw Secretary Road, Yangon Hlaing Tharyar Township, is conducting excessive overtime recruitment.

"On some days, I have to work overtime until late at night. On the way home, when the army checks on me, they don't believe that I'm coming back from the factory, so they ask me to show my worker's card. The factory didn't provide me with a card. I also face difficulties like that. I have to work overtime for a whole month, even on payday. If [my shift finishes] late, I'm...harassed on the road," said the worker.

The workers said that the overtime calls were made...without asking the workers' consent, and the...supervisors were directly ruling the workplace and insulting the workers.

On Sundays, overtime [is] mandatory. If you don't go...you will be pressured, [they are] hiring a lot of day laborers, [who are] being discriminated against...The super[visor]s threatened to fire them and forced them to work overtime...The workers [face a] 5,600 Kyats day fee [if they] take the gate [pass] ...(15,000 Kyats) daily fee cut; Grand fee A (400000), B (30,000); C (20,000 kyats) were cut off, the worker said.

When requesting [orders to be met], [they are] requesting [targets] that a worker cannot [meet]; There is no set [target]...The super[visor]s are swearing at the workers. speaking rudely...[workers are] also facing difficulties such as not being able to eat because of the smell due to overflowing toilets next to the dining room.

The worker said, "The main thing is that they were forced to work overtime without taking a break. Although the relevant departments visited and checked the matter...nothing has changed," the worker said.

It is reported that the factory manufactures and exports brands such as Sinsay...

It is also reported that there is no trade union in the workplace.

"[We] don't [get [paid for] full days off and bonuses. [The] Cutting super[visor] doesn't pay anyone who doesn't agree with him. [He] is always swearing at the employees, and if they don't work overtime, [He] threaten[s] that they won't [be able to return] to work and they won't pay bonuses....[i]f they don't work overtime..." the worker said.

[Translation via Google Translate]