Myanmar: Garment workers allege labour rights are being 'neglected' at Popular garment factory
Summary
Date Reported: 14 Mar 2023
Location: Myanmar
Companies
JD Sports Fashion - Reported buyer , Regatta - Former buyer , Popular Garment - Supplier , Lidl - Former buyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 885
Workers: ( 1300 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Excessive production targets , Denial of leave , Intimidation , Occupational Health & Safety , Mandatory overtime , Dismissal , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Popular Garment allegedly supplies or has supplied to to Lidl, Regatta and JD Sports; Regatta stated it does not have current business with the factory, in response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. JD Sports previously stated in 2022 that it had not proceeded with production at the factory after authorisation. Lidl has previously stated that it had stopped business with the factory from September 2021.
Source type: News outlet
“Workers say that labor rights are being neglected”, 14 March 2023
Workers of Popular International Garment Manufacturing Co., Ltd said that while working in the workplace, they are being fired without giving any reason, they are demanding an increase in…clothing [targets]…they are not allowed to take leave, they do not have drinking water, there is no safety in the workplace, etc.
The workers said that they are suffering from the following violations of labor rights at the factory, which was opened on Phanchewan Road, Industrial Zone 2, Hlaingthayar Township, Yangon.
The factory, which operates with more than 1,300 workers, is owned by Chinese nationals…[and produces] FRONTIER Brand raincoats such as REGATTA… It is reported that jeans and shirts are being sewn and exported.
In the workplace, they were dismissed without any fault, pressured and threatened to [meet targets], [do] not receiv[e] benefits such as casual leave, [and there is a] lack of clean drinking water...
In addition, if one day's work is missed…[workers’] daily wage (10,000 kyats) was reportedly cut.
When asking for [targets], they…called a meeting of the workers who did not meet the [target] and…pressurize[d] them.
A worker explained the situation in the current workplace, "…Those who do not meet the [target are] pressure[d] and threaten[ed]. Some of them do not even go to the toilet and drink water.
Recently, some workers were forced to sign under the name of Beaume International Garment MFG Co,LTD in the workplace and then separated. In addition, the worker said that nearly 300 workers were forced to work all night…
"When it came to the inspection, they were…asked to lie…There are not enough seats to eat in a factory with thousands of people working. There are not enough toilets. I have to worry about when the electricity will come on. After that, there is no drinking water. I want them to fix it," said a worker from the workplace.
The workers said that they do not want to be named because there is no union in the workplace and they are helpless in labor matters and they are often fired.
[Translation via Google Translate]