Myanmar: Workers at Lucky Fortune reported labour rights abuses, including mandatory overtime and intimidation
Summary
Date Reported: 4 May 2023
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Bestseller - Reported buyer , Myanmar Lucky Fortune Garment - Supplier , ONLY (part of Bestseller) - Reported buyer , Inditex - Former buyer , Sinsay (part of LPP S.A.) - Buyer , LPP Spółka Akcyjna - Buyer , Pull & Bear (part of Inditex) - Former buyer , Stradivarius (part of Inditex) - Former buyer , Zara (part of Inditex) - Former buyer , Workman - BuyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 1000
Workers: ( 1000 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Business-military collusion , Freedom of Association , Occupational Health & SafetyResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Myanmar Lucky Fortune Garment allegedly supplies or has supplied to Inditex for its ZARA, Stradivarius and Pull&Bear brands, LPP S.A. for its Sinsay brand, and BESTSELLER for its ONLY brand; Inditex and LPP S.A provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. BESTSELLER has previously informed us that it does not source from the factory. In September 2024, Workman provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. In September 2024, Inditex informed us that it no longer sources from Myanmar.
Source type: News outlet
"Dictatorial rules in the workplace and worker right violations"
... Lucky Fortune Co., Ltd., which operates with more than 1,000 workers on U Tun Hla Road near the intersection of 14th Road in Shwe Pytha Township, Yangon Region, has labor rights violations and workers say that it is difficult to file a complaint.
The worker, who did not want to be named, said that there was no trade union in the workplace, and a workplace coordination committee was formed by the employer.
"From SMART Myanmar, they provide training to WCC, they seek orders, but we are forced to work with more pressure, which is not good for the workers. The law is also being violated. The employer and them are fine," said a worker who works at the workplace.
Recently, the uniforms for the military council were also ordered to be made by the workers. According to an unnamed source, the military council often visits the workplace.
There is no transparency in paying the workers. He said that he was not allowed to tell the truth about the salary and the workers did not dare to say it.
It is said that ZARA brand shirts and pants are sewn in the factory owned by a Chinese national. As another violation, a worker was asked to work from 7:45 a.m... He said that he was sewing the cloth out of the normal working hours because he was afraid of being shouted.
Similarly, when it comes to meal time, the meal time is (30) minutes, and the workers are forced to eat fast in (10) minutes, and they are forced to sew clothes...
Again, when facing high production targets in the workplace (up to 45 pants or 35 shirts), workers do not drink water and the employer forced them to work without going to the toilet. The worker said that supervisors talk rudely, scream and shout at them if the targets are not met.
The pregnant women are facing the same issues...
Supervisors are the only people who are paid well to oppress the workers; The worker said that they are dealing with the workplace in a dictatorial manner.
In the workplace, "If there is a shortage of drinking water for the workers, bad water, or if there is any injury while working in the clinic, the workers have to save their own money to buy and use it. Workers are not entitled to casual leave, medical leave, and for not receiving leave, they are paid 5,200 kyats, daily wages...
WCC also understands that the workers' difficulties must be discussed in the workplace, but WCC representatives said that they are working according to the employer's wishes...
[Translation via Google Translate]