By Myo Thein - Jul 25, 2025
Workers at Chi Mei Garment Factory say they are being forced to work dawn overtime without official approval, and that factory management is coaching them to lie during inspections.
“On the night of July 23, when we worked the overnight overtime shift, the factory manager closed the curtains and made us work. He said it would be a problem if the labor office found out. They told the manager to deny calling for overtime when inspectors come. They also said something will be arranged again for tonight (July 24) — either midnight or overnight overtime,” workers said.
They added that throughout July, they were made to work until 4:00 AM for dawn overtime and until midnight for overnight shifts. Workers were forced into overtime even on Sundays. These dawn shifts are often done the day before public holidays, and about half the sewing workers are assigned to them.
“They make us work continuously until 6:30 PM after lunch without giving us a break. They only give us a 30-minute break if we have to do night overtime. We have to buy our dinner outside the factory. But 30 minutes isn’t enough time since everyone in the factory is buying from the same place. Other departments besides sewing are also being called for overtime. Sometimes we finish at 4:00 AM, but no ferry transport is arranged on those days,” workers said.
The factory manager is a man, and workers say excessive pressure from management is causing health problems inside the workplace. Supervisors are said to be forcing workers into overtime shifts aggressively.
“The supervisors treat them with hostility and pressure them if someone refuses to work overtime. They say the orders are urgent and force us . One girl on the sewing line fainted, but they didn’t let her go home — they made her continue working,” said the workers.
Workers also said there is no union or WCC in the factory to speak on their behalf. They added that necessary medicines are often unavailable, even when requested.
“They usually say medicine is not available when we go to ask. The nurse only puts medicine boxes in each department when an inspection is expected. They take all the medicine back out when the inspection is over,” workers said.
Chi Mei Garment Factory is located near 14 Junction, Shwepyithar Industrial Zone, Shwepyithar Township, Yangon. The factory is Chinese-owned and reportedly employs around 900 workers.
