"Myanmar Zande garment factory forcing overtime", 6 September 2023

According to the labourers, labour rights are violated [as they are] forced to work overtime and [face] profanities in Myanmar Zande garment factory which is located in the Seik Kan Thar Street, Industrial Zone 2, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon.

The factory which is owned by a Chinese National is operating with over 600 labour force and manufacturing [for] LERROS brands.

The labourers said that there is no union and no workplace negotiation committee, and they were told [the workers] that they cannot demand labor rights...They would not be allowed to form a labor union, and that even if it is formed, it would not be recognized. The normal working hours are from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm with 2 hours of overtime, and the factory is only 3 months old.

Lately, they have been working from Monday to Friday until 8:30 p.m., and all night on Saturday. The labourers said that the consent of [the workers was] not collected [and they have] no right to refuse...overtime.

“Overtime is mandatory if they call...[sometimes] they call selected people and sometimes all of us. They provide a...snack for...[overnight shifts]. We don’t have time to go back home to eat as we have to work until morning. It is not convenient that we need to [phone our] families to send us a meal,” said a labour.

The labourer explained [that] there was no advance notice and no right to refuse for overtime. The labourer also said that the super[visor] leaders were always yelling and swearing at them because of [the targets] that [are] more [than what] the labourers [can] manufacture.

“We can’t even go [to the] restroom and drink as the super[visor]s and leaders start to shout if we stand up,” said...a labourer. The labourers said that they want [the factory] to give notice in advanced for...overtime, ask [workers to meet] only...possible [targets]...stop slandering in the workplace and to give [workers their] legal labour benefits.