By Hsu Latt Phyu - May 27, 2025
Workers at Dishang Fashion (Myanmar) garment factory say they are continuing to demand higher daily wages and are facing intimidation as a result. The protest, which began on the afternoon of May 19, has seen over 400 of the approximately 900 workers participate in a work stoppage to call for wage increases.
The workers remain in a peaceful protest, but on May 21, plainclothes individuals reportedly entered the factory and collected personal information from the workers leading the protest.
Dishang Fashion (Myanmar) Co., Ltd is a Chinese national-owned garment factory located in the Min Gyi Maha Min Khaung Road, Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, employing around 900 workers and producing for international brands such as ONLY and Bestseller.
Workers state that there is no trade union at the factory and only a WCC (Workplace Coordinating Committee) formed by the employer exists.
Factory hours run from 7:30 AM to 7:20 PM, with 3.5 hours of mandatory overtime. Workers say they are sometimes required to work overtime even on Sundays.
Current wages consist of 4,800 kyats daily wage, 2,000 kyats support allowance, and 3,200 kyats attendance bonus, totaling 10,000 kyats. Overtime pay is 2,100 kyats per hour. Skill-based bonuses are 500 kyats for A4, 700 kyats for A3, 1,100 kyats for A2, and 1,600 kyats for A1 level.
Workers say their income is insufficient to cover basic living expenses despite working continuously. That led to the May 19 wage increase protest.
“Related township labour offices have also visited and tried to negotiate, but no resolution was reached. The employer only offered to increase the attendance bonus by 500 kyats and skill bonuses by 300 kyats. On May 24, a representative from the regional labour office came and took the protest leaders away. The official used intimidating language like, ‘Who do you think you are?’ and took photos and personal data. The employer allowed this. Unknown individuals have entered the factory and collected our information. These people took pictures and hurled insults while we were told not to use phones,” said one protesting worker.
Since May 19, Dishang Fashion workers have been demanding 12,000 kyats as the standard daily wage (paid entirely as basic wage), an increase of 1,000 kyats across all skill levels, an increase of 20,000 kyats in attendance bonus, reformation of the Workplace Coordination Committee, fixed production targets without further increases, legal leave entitlements, and quicker, more accessible gate passes. In total, 12 demands were submitted.
