"Workers were forced to work overtime at the Wonderful Apparel factory without getting paid", 23 October 2023

At the...Wonderful Apparel factory, workers say they are being forced to work overtime without getting paid and their...statutory holiday [pay is cut].

This factory is located in Han City Power Street, Myaung Takar industrial Zone, Mawbe Township. It...operates with a workforce of over 450 workers.

It is said that they are sewing brands such as KIABI [and] TROLLKIDS...The factory does not have a labor union, but a workplace coordination committee (WCC) has been formed.

''We are disparaged for taking leaves upon health issues. The daily wage and attendance bonus are also cut. Grade bonus will be reduced, if we missed a single day'' said a factory worker.

Factory workers...are being recruited overtime until 12 o'clock and overtime throughout the night.

The worker, who did not want to be named, said that if the garment quality is unsatisfied, the factory forces the QCs to work overtime for free, and if the QCs refuse, they threaten with firing. If the fabric doesn’t meet the quality standard, each level of QCs are cut-off.

As factory workers, they want to get the legal benefits, to [be notified about] overtime and...pay, [Factory officials to] not discriminate upon the grade bonuses and only to cut the grade bonus proportionately for absen[ces] and to provide toilet cleaning services.