By Min Ni Kyaw - May 20, 2025
Workers at Asdet (Myanmar) Garment Co., Ltd reported to the Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM) that the factory differentiates daily wages based on skill levels, but factory officials appear to be organizing payments to keep wages as low as possible.
“They say its permanent employment pay. They offer 9,000 kyats only after a year. But for those under one year, it's only 6,800 kyats with 1,700 kyats per hour for overtime. Those who can operate 4 machines and sew 4 points get 12,000 kyats. Those who can handle 3 machines and 3 points, get 11,000 kyats, two machines and 2 points is 10,000 kyats and if its 1 machine and 1 point, it’s 9,000 kyats. Those who can’t sew get paid 6,800 kyats. That’s how they’re discriminating in wage payment,” said one worker.
Workers added they often have to work daily until 11 p.m., and almost every Sunday is spent working overtime that due to tight orders.
“They make us do overtime every Sunday. Workers work until 8 p.m. on Sundays in some departments. Overtime goes till 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Getting leave is hard. We need to pass the gate check even for a single leave request. Sometimes they say our leave is already used up even when it’s not,” workers said.
WCC (Workplace Coordination Committee) members are complying with management rather than representing workers’ interests. Office staff at the factory are said to behave disrespectfully toward workers—throwing books at them and threatening their ticket payments.
Workers are required to stay until 6 p.m. for extended overtime on salary payment days. Workers say that no changes have been made by the factory despite filing complaints with the labour office regarding excessive overtime.
“We reported to the labour office by phone about excessive overtime. The labour office pretended to come, but nothing really happened. The factory keeps forcing extreme overtime. They never ask for workers’ consent. They just demand and threaten us in various ways if we don’t agree,” said a worker.
Asdet (Myanmar) Garment Co., Ltd is a Chinese national-owned factory operating in the Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon. Around 700 workers are employed there, manufacturing the SMOG brand.
