Myanmar: Garment workers forced to work overtime & lie during inspections
Summary
Date Reported: 20 Jan 2024
Location: Myanmar
Companies
LPP Spółka Akcyjna - Buyer , Reserved (part of LPP Spółka Akcyjna) - Buyer , LC Waikiki - Former buyer , RONG DA GARMENTS MYANMAR - Supplier , Sinsay (part of LPP S.A.) - Buyer , PEP&CO - BuyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 1800
Workers: ( 1800 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
IntimidationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Rong Da Garment allegedly supplies to LPP, Pep&Co and LC Waikiki; all brands provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. LC Waikiki stated it stopped sourcing from the factory two years ago.
Source type: News outlet
"At the Rong Da factory, he worked 11 hours a day and arranged to be forced to start the day" 20 January 2024
[...]
The factory has been [operating] from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day for a year. From the time you stop eating, you [work overtime] continuously for 7 hours without a break. In the evenings, you can also work continuously after eating at 8 o'clock at night...
The factory doubled the daily wages (Kyat 30,000 to 60,000) and controlled the workers with a promise that they would lose their wages if they did not work overtime.
The production manager also told the workers that they [should be] grateful to work overtime during the current political and economic crisis.
Officials from the labor office often come to inspect the factory, as complaints have been made several times about violations by the factory. But nothing has changed in the factory. The labor office officials have not taken any action against the factory and the business situation has not changed.
Knowing that the last brand representative was going to check, the production manager called a WCC meeting and asked some workers to be selected to answer. The selected workers were also asked to lie by the female manager saying, "The rice of 1,800 workers is in your hands."
The RONG DA factory is located in Yangon, Shwepyitha Township, Wattara Industrial Zone, Minbandhu Pagoda Road, and the workers say that there are around 1,800 workers working. The factory is known to sew brands such as Logos Park, Beloved, and Bekkin.)...
[Translation via Google Translate]