"Workers who work continuously for 7 hours at the Great Summer garment factory are not allowed to bring outside medicines" 9 June 2024

Workers from Great Summer garment factory said that their health conditions are getting worse as they are having to work 7 hours continuously and can’t bring their medicines to the factory.

The factory...changed [its name] from the old name Cherry Apparel Myanmar.

“...Some workers are fainted and suffer [from] health issues for working 7 hours continuously. Some workers who have gastric have a lot of difficulties and they have to [take medication] as they can’t even have a snack in the factory,” said a factory worker.

The working hours are from 8:00 am to 7:30 pm including 2 hours of overtime. Great Summer Myanmar Garment workers are working 7 hours continuously from 12:30 to 7:30 without a break.

The workers...have to sign a warning and [are] intimidated for bringing outside foods and medicines into the factory.

“A female worker attempted to take a pill in 6:00 pm on June 6 according to her doctor’s prescription but the security intimidated [her and said] that they will take a picture of her taking pills and report [it to] the factory [so] the female worker missed her dose. Workers are suffering from excessive overtime. There is a medic-clinic in the factory but there is no medicines in the clinic. That make worse,” said the workers.

They are not allowed to take leave for health and social issues. They are labeled as absent for missing a day and [receive a] pay cut of daily wages and other benefits as well, a worker explained.

“...Therefore, we have to work even if we are ill. It cost around 50,000 kyats for us to visit a clinic,” a worker explained.

Great Summer garment factory is operating with...around 1,000 workers...The factory is manufacturing shirts and jean pants. When it...operated [under] Cherry Apparel Myanmar...FieldCore brand pants were manufactured.

[Translation via Myanmar Labour News]