By Hanthar Hein - Aug 28, 2025
The Ministry of Labour and the Factory and Labour Law Inspection Department if the military council has announced that it will inspect and take action against factories and workplaces in Yangon Region’s industrial zones and non-industrial areas that require workers to do overtime beyond the approved limits.
It is known that factories and workplaces in and outside industrial zones are required to request overtime approval permits from the Ministry of Labour in order to have their workers perform overtime.
According to complaints from workers, some factories and workplaces are having workers work overtime beyond the approved permits from Monday to Friday. Inspections revealed that these factories are indeed violating the limits stated in the permits.
In addition, the Factory and Labour Law Inspection Department stated that inspections found some workplaces also making workers work overtime on Saturdays until 6:30 PM or 7 PM, beyond what was permitted.
Such factories and workplaces that require overtime beyond the approved permits will be subjected to legal action, and additional inspections will be conducted to take action against others that continue such practices.
“They make us work all evening and night shifts. That’s happening in a lot of factories. That’s good if the ministry really inspects and acts according to what they say. But we’re afraid the factories will only follow the law while inspections are ongoing and break the rules again later. That’s why we want regular inspections, not just ones based on complaints,” said a garment factory worker from Shwepyitha Industrial Zone.
According to letters sent by workers to Myanmar Labour News, garment factories are excessively forcing workers to do overtime without rest, leading to both physical and mental harm, and it is said that while there have been no deaths yet, the consequences are severe.
Regarding excessive overtime, it is known that the Factory and Labour Law Inspection Department has already sent official notification letters to factories and workplaces in Yangon Region, instructing them not to exceed the limits stated in the overtime approval permits.
