Myanmar workers at Won Sinh Technology factory in Chonburi, Thailand have reported experiencing discrimination and oppressive treatment from their employers. The factory, which employs over 900 Myanmar workers alongside Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese workers, has been specifically targeting Myanmar workers with unfair practices. Workers have revealed that the factory has been terminating employees without cause or compensation and implementing irregular work schedules that severely impact their livelihoods.
According to worker testimonies, the factory initially increased its workforce during peak production periods, but following the Chinese New Year holiday, they began implementing irregular work schedules. Workers are now forced to work on alternating days, with some being made to take three to four days off before being allowed to work for just one day. The factory has ignored requests for daily wage compensation during forced off days and has circumvented Thailand’s mandatory minimum wage of 400 baht per day by implementing a contract-based system. Workers also report that they face immediate termination for even a single unauthorized absence.
When workers attempt to raise concerns about these issues, they are caught in a cycle of deflection between factory management and labor brokers, with neither party taking responsibility for addressing their grievances. Those who formally resign are issued fake work permits, creating significant obstacles for future employment opportunities. Workers who wish to seek new employment must obtain new work permits, costing approximately one million Myanmar Kyat (roughly 10 lakhs). Previous attempts by workers to protest these oppressive conditions have resulted in retaliatory terminations by factory management, effectively silencing worker dissent and perpetuating the cycle of exploitation.
