Myanmar: Factory accused of poor health & safety, verbal abuse, and denying workers' legal benefits
Summary
Date Reported: 23 Jun 2022
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Sunrise Myanmar - Supplier , OVS SpA - Reported buyer , Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) - Reported buyer , Shimamura - Buyer , Topvalu Collection (part of AEON) - Reported buyer , Honeys Holdings - Buyer , United Athle - Former buyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 1800
Workers: ( 1800 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Personal Health , Mandatory overtime , Denial of leave , Dismissal , Occupational Health & Safety , Denial of permanent contracts , Excessive production targets , Gender Discrimination , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Sunrise Myanmar allegedly supplies to H&M, OVS SpA, Topvalu and Shimamaura; H&M, OVS SpA and Topvalu provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre, stating they do not source from the factory. Shimamura did not respond. In January 2024, Shimamura, United Athle and Honeys provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. United Athle stated it no longer sources from the factory.
Source type: News outlet
"Factory workers say they are no longer entitled to holidays, including outright violations of labor laws.", 23 June 2022
Workers in the industrial zone say they are no longer entitled to the legal benefits of the 1951 leave and holiday [act] in the workplace…
The factory [supplies] brands such as...OVS [and] H&M...
[A worker] said he was being harassed daily by line supervisors [who were] speaking rudely and humiliatingly in the workplace, and rais[ed] workers[‘] [targets]…
In addition, hot and cold water is not provided in the workplace. There is no emergency exit. Health and safety measures are lacking, including the presence of clinics [and] the lack of medicine for workers who are injured and have to go to an outpatient clinic at their own expense…
In addition, overtime hours [go] up…beyond the legal limit…
On Sunday, workers were forced to work overtime without their consent, and those who did not work overtime were punished for three consecutive days without OT.
Workers at the plant say there are unreasonable dismissals…