"A 7-month pregnant labour is being forced to work without a break at Jia Xin (Myanmar) Garment Factory", 20 September 2023

Jia Xin (Myanmar) Garment Co; Ltd in Shwe Pyi Thar is forcing a 7-month pregnant labour to work without giving [her] a rest period, according to a labour aid person.

The pregnant labour was sick on September 9, so she asked for a gate pass. It is reported that Line Super[visor] Ma...said "Just leave if you can’t handle [it]" without giving [her the pass]. She didn't work overtime as she was sick and returned home. After visiting the welfare clinic on the 11th, she was on medical leave for 3 days and was off work until 13.9.2023.

When she returned to the work on 14.9.23 the line super[visor] call[ed] her to the corner of the line and humiliate[d] her by yelling at her “Don’t work here...if you can’t work overtime. Resign...What are you expecting...here? You didn’t even meet the hourly demands. And you don’t want to work evening overtime all night...If you want to just chill at your house, then do it. Don’t come here. Resign...,”

On September 15, she was not allowed a break on lunch time and forced to work instead...while other employees were having their lunch. She was told to eat only after she met the hourly demands.

Although the labour is 7 months pregnant, she has not taken a single day of pregnancy leave, and she is not allowed to use the one day leave per month to visit the antenatal clinic...

According to the labour laws, pregnant workers are entitled to social security leave and other benefits such as maternity leave, [and] to be assigned to work only light tasks with full pay.

In fact, assigning pregnant labours the same work load with other workers, such as demanding for the same [targets], is...violating the law, the labor activist said.

In addition, among the many violations in the factory, the HR manager takes the roles of both, the position of interpreter and production, handling tasks and decisions in the workplace. forced to work without OT pay, cheating the labours' signatures by signing resignation papers without the knowledge of the parties involved...