"Workers forced to work nearly 20 hours a day"

MYANMAR Long sheng Fashion factory operates with around 2,000 workers and is forced to work excessively overtime and on days when they have to work all night, they are forced to work nearly 20 hours a day, causing fatigue, the workers said.

The factory, located at No. 1, Kanaw Ping Gyi Road, Industrial Zone 2, Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon Region ... produces JACK&JONES brand jackets, windbreakers, raincoats, windbreakers, and cola-filled jackets.

The regular working hours start at 8 am and take a half-hour break at 7:30 pm. They work from 8 pm to 5 am. After returning home by ferry in the morning, they return to work at 8 am and only return to work at 5 am the next day. This has affected their health because they have no time to rest and sleep.

"The hours I work in Dabale are about 21 hours. For the past 6 months, I have been working all night. Many workers are not comfortable. The employer calls them all night. If they don't work, they are discriminated against and treated badly," the worker said.

There is no labor union in the workplace. Although a labor coordination committee has been formed, it is not discussed with the workers.

"There is a WCC, but they are the employer's responsibility, and they do not solve the problems of the workers," the worker commented.

Even when overtime is excessive, the sewing [targets] are being demanded more than they can sew.

There are around 43 workers, including supervisors and helpers, on one sewing line, and they have to sew 23 jackets per hour. A seamstress can sew from two to three stitches, and the sewing line is not full, so if the sewing standards are not met, they are cursed with the word "y- Nearly half of the more than 2,000 workers in the factory are day laborers.

Among those working as day laborers, many are underage workers, who are being forced to work on an equal basis with adult workers, and are being paid a daily wage of 4,800 kyats and only 1,200 kyats per hour. They are losing their rights.

"We are young workers aged 15 to 17. Children on the production line are approved after working for a month, but child workers in other departments are only paid day laborers. For those who have worked day laborers for 7 months, they are working without receiving vacation, skill allowance, or regular pay. It is very painful," the worker said.

The workers want to address the issue of excessive overtime work in the factory, which is exploiting the labor of underage workers without considering their health and social conditions.

The workers' demands are:

1. The employer should stop the illegal recruitment of night workers.
2. To approve the appointment of day laborers who have completed 3 months in the workplace.
3. The labor representative wcc does not represent the workers because it is not elected to represent the workers.
4. The employer should only request [targets] for fabrics that the workers can sew.
5. The workers said that they would like to request that the employer not call for overtime on Sundays.

[Translation via Google Translate]