Myanmar: Garment workers reportedly working overtime of up to 200 hours per month
အကျဉ်းချုပ်
Date Reported: 18 Feb 2024
Location: Myanmar
Companies
Baroque Japan Limited - Buyer , Workman - Buyer , Gratex Industries - Buyer , Myanmar Dixinda Garment - SupplierAffected
Total individuals affected: 1400
Workers: ( 1400 - Location unknown , Clothing & textile , Gender not reported )Issues
Harassment (other than sexual) , Gender Discrimination , Mandatory overtime , Occupational Health & Safety , Dismissal , Excessive production targets , Denial of permanent contractsResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Myanmar Dixinda allegedly supplies to Gratex, Workman and Baroque for its Azul brand; Workman provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. Baroque and Gratex did not.
Source type: News outlet
"Working overtime up to 200 hours per month; They said they were being forced to threaten to fire them if they refused to work overtime", 18 February 2024
At the Dixinda Garment factory...workers are being forced to work overtime, and if they refuse to work overtime, they are discriminated against and even fired.
It is reported that the factory, which operates with more than 1,400 workers, does not have a union...
The worker said that there is an excessive demand for [targets] in the workplace...
"There is no advance notice on...overtime. There is no day off for a whole month. If the worker...want[s] to take time off, the Super[visors] say that they don't have to come to work the next day..." said the worker.
The worker said that due to this excessive overtime, the workers' health has been affected by not getting a break, and if they are sick, they are not allowed to enjoy leave benefits.
Many day laborers are being forced to work in these workplaces, and if they are not needed, they are unlawfully dismissed from work, and if the labor office comes to inspect them, they are notified in advance...
As a request from the workers, the employer should allow the workers to enjoy the days [of leave] they are entitled to, not to call overtime...without the consent of the workers, and not to make overtime [workers] stay overnight or in the morning... According to the workers, they would like to demand things from [the] [s]uper[visor], [including] not to swear rudely at the workers. The workers said that they would like to ask the officials to recalculate and recalculate with debit, to give them legal benefits, and to accept the leave if they are granted leave.
[Translation via Google Translate]