REGARDING the reports of violations of law against factory workers spreading on social networks, the Factories and General Labour Law Inspection Department has organized labour organizations and inspected whether the news is correct as per the regulations to ensure the rights of workers.
According to Myanmar Labour News on 4-5-2023, the Lucky Fortune Garment Factory owned by U Myat Swe (Myanmar citizen) located at No 90, Setsaya U Tun Street, Shwepyitha Industrial Zone 4 in Insein Township of Yangon Region lack transparency in salary payment and workers do not have rights to tell right or wrong regarding their salary, they (workers) have to arrive the worksite about 15 minutes before the working hours if they are late, they are scolded seriously. Although the break time for lunch is 30 minutes, they have to finish their meals within 10 minutes and have to continue their sewing processes. If they do not finish the meals within 10 minutes, the supervisor and all supervisors shout or scold them. Therefore, they want a full 30-minute break time. They (factory officials) set the target that the workers cannot meet and the workers do not have time to drink or go toilet. If they do not meet the target, they were scolded. The pregnant workers are also forced to work and asked for the same number of garments as other workers. There is no safe ferry transportation for pregnant workers. There is a shortage of drinking water in the factory, the water is dirty, there is no medicine in the clinic of the factory and the workers have to buy the medicines by saving their money together. The workers want them to prepare medicines at the clinic as per the law. The workers do not have rights mentioned in the law. If they take leave, they are not allowed to do so and a total of K15,200 (K5,200 daily wage, K10,000 for the regular working day from the salary) and they want rights mentioned in the law. In overtime sections, they are not asked for their desire and the employers and WCC jointly carries out to get permission for overtime by signing without informing labourers.
Regarding such information, the staff officers of Labour Department, Social Welfare Department, General Labour Law Inspection Department and Department of Labour Relations went to the factory on 11-5-2023 and examined the factory in charge, manager, HR manager, representatives of WCC members, the pregnant workers and other workers, totalling 21 people and the findings were as follows:
(a) The wages of workers are paid five days after the end of the month, and the workers receive the salary in full and correctly.
(b) The work starts at 8 am and the workers are not forced start before the working hours starts at 7:45 am.
(c) The target asked by the factory is a target that the worker can meet and they are not scolded while asking for the set target.
(d) The pregnant women are not asked for the target that they cannot meet and there is proper seat arrangement for the ferry.
(e) There is no shortage of drinking water and the water is clean for the workers at the factory.
(f) There is one clinic for medical treatment and nurse Daw Nan Kalaya Hlaing, a nursing certificate holder, is appointed and there are 27 medicine kits.
(g) If the workers are absent without leave, they will be cut a K15,200- K5,200 daily wage, K10,000 of the regular working day.
(h) In the overtime section, the workers have to do by signing with their own decision and the representatives of WCC are also selected in accordance with the wish of workers and the WCC members know about it.
Therefore, the news about the Lucky Fortune Garment factory covered by Myanmar Labour News is not correct according to the investigation made on employers and employees.
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