Myanmar: Garment workers reportedly denied leave & forced to work unpaid overtime
အကျဉ်းချုပ်
Date Reported: 13 Jan 2024
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Sinsay (part of LPP S.A.) - Buyer , Mohito (part of LPP S.A.) - Buyer , Myanmar Bestex Garment - Supplier , LPP Spółka Akcyjna - Buyer , OVS SpA - Former buyerAffected
Total individuals affected: 500
Workers: ( 500 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Excessive production targets , Child labour , Wage Theft , Harassment (other than sexual) , Gender DiscriminationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Myanmar Bestex Garment allegedly supplies to LPP (for its Mohito and Sinsay brands) and OVS SpA; LPP and OVS provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. OVS stated it had ceased its collaboration with the factory after the production of its fall-winter collection in 2023.
Source type: News outlet
"If the fabric standards are too high and not met, they have to spend more time for free", 13 January 2024
[Workers] at the Myanmar Bestex garment factory [are] demanded [to meet targets that exceed what] workers [can] sew.
It is reported that the...factory employs more than 500 workers and sews Sinsay brand jackets.
The worker also said that there is no trade union organized to deal with labor matters in the workplace. There are also people who are forced to work overtime without a day off on public holidays.
The worker said that despite having to sew [for] international brand clothes, he received 4,800 kyats as a day fee and 1,000 kyats as a subsidy, and the professional fee was set at 15,000 kyats for A, 10,000 kyats for B, and 5,000 kyats for C...
"...if the [target] is not met, the line supers force them to sign a fake ticket. They have to pay 2 hours of overtime, and they have to work from 10 to 20 hours a month without OT pay," said the worker.
The worker said that child labor is forced in the workplace, and the workers do not get their legal rights, such as casual leave, and even if they take social security medical leave, they face difficulties, and they [are treated] unfairly in the workplace.
The workers said that they would like to request factors such as the full reimbursement of OT fees and the provision of health and harmony in the workplace, if the workers [are] call[ed] for more [over]time [the supervisors must] not...swear...in the workplace, to request [targets] that can be sewn, to do it only with the consent of the workers.
[Translation via Google Translate]