12 fainted during the run and were taken to the hospital. This was particularly painful to the Vietnamese because it occurred on International Women s Day, an important holiday when Vietnam honors women. Women workers have complained about frequent sexual harassment from foreign supervisors. Even in broad daylight, in front of other workers, these supervisors try to touch, rub or grab their buttocks or chests. One supervisor told a female factory worker that it is a common custom for men in his country to greet women they like by grabbing their behinds.
Health care is inadequate.
At the Sam Yang factory, with 6000 employees, one doctor works only two hours a day but the factory operates 20 hours a day. Moreover, all 35 workers we interviewed in depth said they received below minimum wage for their first 90 days at the factory, a clear violation of the minimum wage law. Forced and excessive overtime to meet high quotas is the norm. If workers refuse, they are punished or receive a warning. After three warnings, they re fired.