By Hsu Latt Phyu - Sep 22, 2025
Workers from Dong Yu Garment Co., Ltd, located on Mya Yadanar Street, Mya Sein Yaung Industrial Zone, Htantabin Township, Yangon Region, have filed a complaint to the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) due to being forced to work overtime until 11 PM without the option to refuse.
It is reported that the factory is Chinese citizen-owned, employing over 1,000 workers, manufacturing warm wear, jackets, and pants for the “Workman Colours” brand.
The violations reported by the workers include being forced to work overtime until 11 PM regardless of their willingness, and the factory deducting the 2,500 MMK meal allowance meant for overtime workers without providing it. Workers are seeking resolution as a result.
Snap leaders are required to temporarily support the sewing lines due to staff shortages in the Snap department even though machine operators working on the sewing lines receive weekly incentive bonuses. However, this support work is counted as absenteeism, and they are denied the incentive bonuses, resulting in financial losses despite their hard work.
Additionally, workers are suffering as they are not granted legal leave entitlements. Various deductions are made—such as from their daily wage, allowance, regular pay, and grade pay if they miss a single day of work, leading to further losses, prompting workers to seek resolution.
Workers' demands are as follows:
- Supervisors and leaders from the employer’s side must provide grade pay to genuinely skilled workers and not discriminate in its distribution.
- Employers must grant the legal leave entitlements owed to the workers and refrain from lowering grade levels for missed workdays.
- Employers must allow gate passes if workers have important matters.
- Daw Aye Thandar Kyaw from the Snap department must stop withholding workers' incentive payments.
- The 2,500 MMK meal allowance must not be deducted and must be paid properly when workers work overtime.
- Employers must stop forcing workers to work overtime until 11 PM without giving them option.
