The Myanmar Labor Law which has been operational for the last 60 years clearly defines that the normal working hours per day for every employee is 8 hours and that they can work up to a maximum of 3 hours overtime per day.

The announcement was made after a report from the 'Commission for Observing Rights of Employers and Employees', who went on field trips to factories in Yangon and Bago Division. It states that the government would charge the employers who forced overtime on their employees and fail to comply to the directive after being notified.

The Commission was formed with 26 MPs from the Lower Parliament. The report is based on findings over a period of 15 days of investigation and observation of 36 factories, through which they ascertained that most employees are working 13 hours daily. The employees suffered from mental depression and no health care facilities are provided at their work-places.

The Commission investigated factories and manufacturers of garments, footwear, wigs, seafood, knitting and sewing supplies, electricity, plastic Bag, candy, tiles and fine wood.

MP U Khaing Maung Yi, the Secretary of the Commission explained that the Minister will hold meetings to explain and instruct representatives from the factories to report to the government departments and verify whether they are forcing over time on their employees.

“The laborers are not even aware that they can take leave officially. All they know is that one day salary will be cut if they go on leave for a day. We have also met employees who have never taken leave for 6 years. There was one girl who took only one day leave in her 7 years of employment because of her brother’s wedding”, said U Khaing Maung Yi sharing his experience from the field trips to factories.

A labor rights activist said that Myanmar has the “Leave and Holiday Act”and “Factories Act” as per the Labor Rights Law, 1951. However, employers do not follow the law and the authorities hardly charge those who disobey the law.