"Myanmar Guotai Huasheng Glory Fashion Garment Workers Not Given Leave"

The workers at Myanmar Guotai Huasheng Glory Fashion Garment, located at U Htun Nyo Street, Industrial Zone 2, Hlaing Tharyar Township, are being violated without being given leave.

The factory, which employs more than 600 workers ... produces INEXTENSO brand shirts. There is no labor union established to negotiate labor issues within the workplace.

The violation is that workers are not given leave benefits and are being denied daily allowances and benefits due to health problems. The workers claim that they are being deprived of 42,800 baht for missing a day of work, even though they have complained about the loss of their leave.

The wage rate is 5,800 kyats per day, regular wages, and allowances, but if you miss a day of work due to illness, almost all of the benefits are cut, making it more difficult to make a living.

"I call the... supervisors and ask for leave because I'm sick, but I can't get a day off. If I miss a day, I get a deduction of more than 40,000 kyats. The skill fee is also cut proportionally. If I miss work, I get verbally abused. The 2,000 kyats allowance is only given on days off ... " the worker said.

The worker also said that the [targets] in the workplace [are] too high.

"A line of machines, including HP, HP Super, and HP, requires 14 to 20 people, and they are asking for a standard of 35 people. The line can sew 60 pieces of clothing per hour. If the line is crowded, it can sew up to 100 pieces," the worker said.

The workers said that they are working without dignity because there are not enough people in the workplace and they are asked to sew to the full standard. If the number of points is too high, they are cursed and shouted at and humiliated if the fabric is not finished. If the date is not met, they are called to the top of the line and humiliated.

Last May, the factory manager and three WCC labor representatives asked the workers to sign a contract stating that they would be off work from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The workers who did not sign were pressured to work by the manager and three representatives.

"They don't even sign for OT because the clothes are important. They have to work from 8:30 pm to 8:30 pm from May to June. They also have to work overtime every Sunday without a break. Pregnant workers are told to leave work because they are sick. If they miss work, they are told in public that they have to leave work in one go," the worker said.

They don't give gate passes to leave for emergencies.

As mentioned above, workers who cannot meet the standard due to excessive demands for clothes are called to the office by the [supervisors] and forced to wear a WCC and a turban.

The workers want the following points to be addressed in response to the workplace violations. The demands are:

1. The employer should allow workers to take leave and medical leave.
2. The [supervisors] should not curse, speak rudely, or discriminate against workers.
3. WCC workers' representatives said that they would not work whenever the employer asked them to.
4. The employer should not force the workers to work without having enough people on the production line.
5. They said that they would like the employer to resolve issues such as not forcing pregnant women to work illegally.

[Translation via Google Translate]