MAP Foundation Press Release:Omega Garment Factory

Burns Down Because of Poor Safety Conditions - Over 50

Workers Injured
15th September 2010

On 12th September 2010 at 4:00 am the Omega Garment Factory Co Ltd in Mae
Pa district, Mae Sot a fire ravaged the factory. Fortunately none of the 200 workers
who live on site were killed although there were injuries because of the locked fire
exits.

According to the migrants on site, the fire started from the factory office, when a
fault in the main electricity supply caused sparks to fly and to set fire to fabrics.
After the fire started, the kitchen gas supply exploded and the fire spread to the
store rooms. The workers who live on the premises were sleeping at the time and
were awakened by the noise and smoke. Some fled the scene for safety and some
brave workers tried stop the fire. The factory security guard slept through the whole
incident.

Because the fire exits were locked, some of the workers who fled jumped over a
sharp fence and were injured by sharp pieces of glass. Some stepped on each
other, jumped from heights and were injured. From the investigation, MAP Mae Sot
staff has not learned of any worker who died from the fire. It was not until noon that
the fire was completely stopped by the help of local fire fighters.

For further information please contact: SaiSoe: 0877884871 (English, Thai,

Burmese)

One migrant woman fainted and became unconscious and received treatment at
Mae Sot Hospital for one day. Others received basic treatment at their factory and
all workers stopped working for 7 days. One worker said the “Employer has
promised to pay 40 THB (1.25 US) a day to all workers for 7 days”.

There are over 200 Burmese migrant workers working in this factory. In the past,
workers from the factory have expressed their concerns to MAP Promoting
Occupational Safety and Health field worker about the lack of upkeep of the
electrical wiring in the factory, of the fire alarms, about the absence of fire
extinguishers and about the locked fire exits. Such concerns should be investigated
as they are serious violations of safety rules and standards. Mae Sot, however, has
not been allocated the appropriate budget to employ enough labour inspectors to
monitor the health and safety conditions of the 200 large factories and numerous
smaller factories in and around Mae Sot town.

We trust that the government will see fit to increase the numbers of inspectors to
promote the safety for migrant workers in Mae Sot and to reduce the risks of such
unnecessary dangerous accidents which could so easily cause loss of life.