Myanmar: Garment workers forced to sign statement approving working conditions after news outlet exposes illegal overtime at factory
Riepilogo
Date Reported: 14 Nov 2023
Location: Birmania
Companies
Cherry Apparel - Supplier , FieldCore - BuyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 800
Workers: ( 800 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
IntimidationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Cherry Appeal allegedly supplies to FieldCore; FieldCore did not provide a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre.
Source type: News outlet
"Cherry Apparel (Myanmar) Garment factory forced to sign after being reported to have violated the law", 14 November 2023
The workers said that Cherry Apparel (Myanmar) Co., Ltd garment factory workers were forced to sign [a statement] after the Myanmar Labor News reported that the garment factory was violating the Workshops Act....
The worker said that in the statement [it said], "I will work continuously for 6 and a half hours without taking a break between the time of work and overtime (OT)"...
"In the letter, it was written that [the worker] was satisfied to continue [working] without taking a break and return at 6 and a half hours. If they don't sign [the statement], they say they will have to work until 7 a.m.," said another factory worker.
Cherry Apparel (Myanmar) Co.,Ltd garment factory violates the Workshops Act and [workers are] forced to work 6 hours a day, Myanmar Labor News reported on November 13th.
One of the labor activists said that the workers were asked to sign [the statement] because the factory wanted to avoid the punishment of the law...
The current working hours of the Cherry Apparel (Myanmar) factory are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the workers say that they have to work 2 hours overtime every day.
Therefore, from 12:30 noon to 6:30 pm, the workers have to work 6 hours a day without a break...
"In other factories, they give a break of at least 15 minutes...The factory does not give full breaks during meal breaks...." A worker explained the situation of having to sign.
Cherry Apparel (Myanmar) Co., Ltd garment factory is owned by a Chinese and opened with foreign investment. The factory is in Hlaing Tharay Township. In Anoratha Industrial Zone, nearly 800 workers are working, and the workers said that they are sewing FieldCore denim.