The company always takes the deductions from the workers' checks for their health coverage under Social Security but does not always make the required payments into the Social Security Fund. When this happens, the workers cannot use the health service. When there is no shrimp available, they have to stand around waiting, and earn nothing. Whole days could go by without earning anything, but they have to be there available to work when the shrimp does arrive. If the shrimp comes in late, they have to stay and work until it is all processed, even if that means working late into the night.
Workers have no breaks during the work day beyond a thirty minute lunch period.
Supervisors call the women names, yell at them, and ridicule them. The first thing the new union did was to take down a sign that was hung over a corridor that the workers had to pass through when entering. The workers were told that another factory is now doing the processing work. The workers have provided legal evidence that they are employees and appealed the decision, but the Labor Minister denied their appeal. The case has now been referred to the courts.