4 4.6 Working Hours, Wages and Benefits Human Rights Implicated: Right to just and favourable conditions of work; Right to an adequate standard of living Field Assessment Findings  Daily wage workers typically worked every day possible to maximise income while     work was available, thereby exceeding legal working time limits Awareness of rights to wages and benefits varied considerably. Many workers admitted to a very low level of understanding of their rights vis-à-vis employers or the Government. There was also little to no information regarding labour rights or working conditions shared proactively by most companies with their workers, which will be important as a number of new labour laws such as the Minimum Wage Law have recently come into force. For tower construction: • It was regularly reported to researchers that workers did not receive any rest days until after the completion of a site, i.e. usually a 1-1.5 month build period. • Working hours were often 7 or 8 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m. with a (usually 30-60 minute) lunch break. A second night shift was occasionally reported of 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. • Wage rates varied depending whether workers were directly employed by tower companies, labour sub-contractors, or brought on for peak periods (such as on foundation sections) as day labourers from nearby villages. − Worker daily wages were reported anywhere between 5,000 MMK per day up to 15,000 MMK (30,000 MMK if able to work a double shift) − Overtime was not usually paid. Where it was reported as a practice, for example where workers worked beyond 11 p.m., the rate given was not specified. For fibre line digging: • Working hours were commonly cited as 6 or 7 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. by managers, but workers often reported that they were often pressured to continue until target distances were dug regardless of the hours worked. • Workers were not given set rest days as they were not paid until their target distance had been dug, which was dependent on soil conditions and the number of workers grouped together. • Wages often did not amount to levels sufficient to cover basic needs: − Workers were paid according to distance dug, with no reflection of soil conditions or geography where it takes more time and effort to achieve the same distances. In terrain where distances were harder to achieve, workers regularly struggled to earn enough to feed themselves or families. − Sick pay was not provided. As such, workers continued to work 12 hour days of hard labour even when ill in order to ensure their incomes. For fibre cable factories: • Working hours: − Working hours lasted around 8 hours per day. − Overtime was only paid after 8 years of continuous work. • Wages: − The basic daily wage rate was 2,200 MMK ($2.00), but workers reported not receiving salary increases or promotion despite 4 or 5 years continuous service. 198 PAGE CHAPTER 4.6: LABOUR