Myanmar: Garment workers at H&M supplier reportedly forced to 'walk on their knees' after failing to meet targets
Summary
Date Reported: 18 Sep 2022
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Saung Oo Shwe Nay (Golden Sunshine) - Supplier , Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) - Former buyer , New Yorker - BuyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 6
Workers: ( 6 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Violence , Harassment (other than sexual) , Gender Discrimination , Excessive production targetsResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Saung Oo Shwe Nay (Golden Sunshine) allegedly supplies to H&M; H&M provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. In September 2024 H&M stated it no longer sources from the factory, and New Yorker did not provide a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre.
Source type: News outlet
"Some workers at a factory in Hlaing Thayar Township are being punished illegally for walking on their knees", 18 September 2022
...In a garment factory in the Silver Sea Industrial Zone, some factory workers who did not meet the specified number of garments were forced to walk on their knees and were subjected to illegal punishment, an anonymous source told Mazzima today, September 18.
The incident happened on September 12 at the Saung Oo Shwe Nay Garment Factory, which mainly sews H&M, an international brand.
The former Cutting QC Super[visor] asked six workers to walk on their knees as the set number of 300 fabrics was not [met]. Upon this, the HR officials of the factory called the relevant Line Leaders to warn them that they cannot do this to the workers, and now they have stopped yelling and cursing at the workers...
Factory workers have informed the Myanmar Federation of General Workers' Unions (FGWM) for assistance against the illegal harassment of line leaders.
"The federation has contacted the H&M brand and sent a letter to resolve the injustice of the workers," said an official of the Federation of Myanmar General Workers' Unions (FGWM).
[Translation vis Google Translate]