The Suyangsan Unha Clothing Factory in Haeju recently conducted an intensive production campaign to fulfill an order from a major customer in China, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Daily NK source in South Hwanghae Province said Thursday that the factory “conducted a short-term production struggle between June 25 and July 5 to carry out the primary production of garments.” During the struggle, all the workers “ate and slept in the factory and worked through the night,” he said.
The garments produced during the campaign included tracksuits, T-shirts, hoodies, pants, yoga wear and winter clothing. Factory managers repeatedly stressed that it was imperative for the workers to meet the production schedule quickly and accurately.
Major order from Chinese client ignites “production battle”
Prior to the start of the production campaign, the factory received a large production order from a major customer in China in June.
Commenting on the order, the factory said it was “an important order resulting from the recognition of our technical and production capabilities and an opportunity to expand the factory’s presence in China and the international market.
According to the source, “the contract required the goods to be delivered by a certain date, and if the factory missed the deadline, it risked damaging its credibility and voiding the contract. That’s why the factory managers worked hard to make sure they met the deadline, even if they had to involve the workers in an urgent production struggle.”
The factory managers understood that successfully completing the order could lead to additional orders or long-term cooperation with Chinese customers, which would increase profits. So the factory pushed its workers to produce the garments, even if it meant working through the night, the source said.
For their part, the factory’s workers took a lively, active part in the production campaign because it was an opportunity to earn the trust of important existing and potential customers by proving that the factory could produce an order quickly and accurately.
“The factory managers urged all officials and workers to fully recognize the significance of their work and to perform their duties diligently,” the source stated. “They emphasized the importance of unity, encouraging everyone to work together so the factory could lead in achieving tasks, even during socialist competition evaluations, thereby strengthening the factory’s solidarity and collective spirit.”
Daily NK works with a network of sources living in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous for security reasons.
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