"WHM Myanmar factory workers were forced to change jobs against their will. Toilets and drinking water are also impure", 14 May 2024

The workers said that the officials of the WHM Myanmar Garment Factory in Hlaing Tharay Industrial Zone 2 are forcing the workers to move [jobs against] their will.

"At the beginning of the interview and employment, I was appointed as a sewing worker...the machine line [later] asked me to make a helper. Most refused. But [I] can't. I have to do it.” A worker said.

WHM Myanmar garment factory has 5 machine lines and more than 200 workforce currently sewing [for] OVS...workers said. Although there was no change in wages due to being transferred, the workers said that they were suffering psychological damage because of the reputational damage and humiliation...

In addition, the workers continued to say that the rights of workers who do not work overtime on weekends are being cut by the factory. The workers said that they had only 3 days off last March and had to work overtime the rest of the time.

"For those who do not work overtime [wages] are cut..." he said.

A worker explained in detail that due to these cuts, a worker suffered [a loss of] between 20,000 and 30,000 kyats, and that amount of money was five days' worth of food for the worker and his family members.

The workers said that there were incidents where some workers vomited because the drinking water inside the factory was not clean.

"They provide drinking water from big blue containers connected to the pipeline. There were burnt and dead animals in the bucket, and the drinking water smelled bad. Some workers vomit." He said.

The workers said that this kind of impure drinking water happens often, even though they are cleaned after the workers inform them about the bad drinking water. He said some of the toilets in the factory were overflowing and were not clean...

The workers said that despite using unsanitary restrooms, they did not provide enough cleaning materials such as soap...

[Translation via Google Translate]