By Hsu Latt Phyu - Apr 02, 2025
After news was shared on social media about Dishang Fashion (Myanmar) factory forcibly dismissing a former union leader for organizing a union, the manager (identified through investigation) used abusive and sexually inappropriate language toward a female labor rights defender who commented on the post.
The woman had commented that violating freedom of association in a factory sewing for the well-known brand ONLY is shameful.
She further commented, “After the coup, the factory manager who took over suppressed unions — I know everything from start to finish. The current manager and HR said they didn’t want these people in the union and told HR to pay them off. HR and managers have no ethics Even though they're producing for major brands. They had no ethics even before the coup. They don’t have any sympathy at all after the coup. HRs better understand their responsibilities first. As for the WCCs, let me ask— if you even know your role? You’re not supposed to act like enforcers for the boss. You’re supposed to mediate worker-employer issues. Do you even know what’s happening to you? You’ve become tools of the boss. Even though I haven’t said anything directly to you, your actions are disgraceful. Know what kind of hat you're wearing.”
However, the manager, reportedly named Sattkyar Walar Oak Soe, responded with multiple comments from his social media account and even sent aggressive messages to the woman through Messenger, according to labor rights advocates.
“A factory manager verbally and sexually harassed a female labor rights activist not only on social media but also through private messages. This is unacceptable. This factory employs hundreds of women. What kind of safety do women have in a factory where the HR manager behaves like this? What level of sexual harassment exists? Brands can’t even ensure protection of labor or human rights. The factory's management clearly does not comply with ILO Convention 190. They have no respect for women. In many factories, managers, supervisors, and HR yell at and harass female workers daily. This type of verbal abuse and sexual harassment is widespread. Factory owners need to consider this seriously. These actions are in violation of ILO standards,” said a representative from the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar.
She added that someone who commits such acts of sexual harassment without accountability in a position of authority must face appropriate consequences.
