Myanmar: Garment workers at Myanmar Guotai Huasheng Glory factory report discrimination against former union members and violations of workers' rights
Riepilogo
Date Reported: 19 Gen 2023
Location: Birmania
Companies
Carrefour - Former buyer , Pimkie (part of Association Familiale Mulliez) - Buyer , Lidl - Former buyer , Primark (part of Associated British Foods) - Former buyer , Auchan - Buyer , Tendam - Buyer , Myanmar Guotai Huasheng Glory Fashion - SupplierAffected
Total individuals affected: 1
Workers: ( 1 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Personal Health , Occupational Health & SafetyResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Guotai Huasheng Glory Fashion allegedly supplies or has supplied to Primark, Auchan, Carrefour, Lidl and Pimkie; Primark and Auchan provided a response to an invite to comment from the Resource Centre. Pimkie did not respond. Carrefour and Lidl previously informed the Resource Centre that they no longer source from the factory. In January 2024, Primark informed us it had completed its responsible exit in October 2023 and no longer sources from the factory. In September 2024, Tendam did not provide a response to an invite to comment from the Resource Centre.
Source type: News outlet
Riepilogo
Date Reported: 19 Gen 2023
Location: Birmania
Companies
Pimkie (part of Association Familiale Mulliez) - Buyer , Primark (part of Associated British Foods) - Former buyer , Lidl - Former buyer , Tendam - Buyer , Auchan - Buyer , Carrefour - Former buyer , Myanmar Guotai Huasheng Glory Fashion - SupplierAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Harassment (other than sexual) , Freedom of AssociationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Guotai Huasheng Glory Fashion allegedly supplies or has supplied to Primark, Auchan, Carrefour, Lidl and Pimkie; Primark and Auchan provided a response to an invite to comment from the Resource Centre. Pimkie did not respond. Carrefour and Lidl previously informed the Resource Centre that they no longer source from the factory. In January 2024, Primark informed us it had completed its responsible exit in October and no longer sources from the factory. In September 2024, Tendam did not provide a response to an invite to comment from the Resource Centre.
Source type: News outlet
“The workers could not stand the illegal actions of the factory manager who said, "Don't talk about the law before, now is different from before."”, 19 January 2023
The workers of Myanmar Guotai Huasheng Glory factory could not stand the illegal actions of the factory manager in the workplace, saying, "Don't talk about the law before, now is different from before."
The workers said that the employer does not comply with the EC contract in the workplace, and if there is a problem, they are oppressed without solving it…
The factory…manufactures brands such as [Primark, esmara], INEXTENSO, and operates with more than 700 workers at 2 U Tun Nyo Road, Hlaing Thayar Township Industrial Zone…
Workers who witnessed the incident said that a labor union was formed in the workplace before, but after the coup, the union disintegrated and discriminated against workers who had been members before. He said that even if he went to the official to complain about the discrimination, there was no solution.
He said that in December 2022, he forcibly collected money from the workers to support a worker who was injured in the workplace. In addition, he said that the workers whose health was affected were not supported without any responsibility.
"Every day at work, I was insulted so much that the person who was insulting me was a boy, and it was too dishonorable for women to be insulted," said a female worker who couldn't stand it.
The workers want to follow the EC contract in the workplace and not do illegal things. Not to discriminate against the former members of the trade union. According to the workers, they would like to ask again not to talk rudely in the workplace and not to extort money.
[Translation via Google Translate]