By Mu Dra - Jun 04, 2025
Garment factory workers are now continuously demanding fair and adequate wages due to rising commodity prices and increasing difficulties in daily living.
These demands which occurred in at least 12 factories are coming not only from garment factories in the industrial zones of Hlaingthaya, Shwepyithar, and Insein Townships in Yangon, but also from Thayarwaddy, Bago Region. Workers are calling for increases in day wages, overtime pay, and attendance bonus. It is reported that while some factories have not met the exact wage demands, they have reached compromises close to the proposed rates, whereas others are still in ongoing negotiations.
"The current minimum wage of 6,800 kyats per day is no longer sufficient for a single worker given today’s cost of living. Factory workers have begun these demands since wages are not increasing while prices rise. Garment factories in Myanmar mainly operate under the CMP system, producing clothing, bags, and shoes for export brands. Since the wages of production workers are not on par with those in management, they are also calling for basic wage increases," said a garment worker.
According to Solidarity Trade Union of Myanmar - STUM, a labour rights organization, workers from Golden Color Fashion garment factory in Insein Township successfully negotiated an increase in their daily wage from 9,000 kyats to 12,000 kyats on June 2. This achievement was the result of representation by their labour union and was recorded with pride.
“Most basic factory workers face poor living conditions and are caught in debt cycles due to high-interest loans. With suppressed wages in the current economic climate, their ability to meet basic needs is severely limited. A revised minimum wage that reflects current living costs would allow workers to maintain a decent standard of living.
Workplaces will be stable and there will be less need for workers to seek jobs abroad if wages are fair and sufficient,” most garment workers have expressed.
Workers began demanding wage increases around the end of April. Five garment factories in Shwepyithar Township agreed to raise daily wages to 11,000 kyats and hourly overtime pay to 2,200 kyats. Additionally, factories such as Bontech, True Green, and Joy Time in Shwepyithar also agreed to daily wages exceeding 11,000 kyats and hourly overtime pay abobe 2,000 kyats. STUM also stated that Tsang Yih factory in Hlaingthaya Township had its wage demand fulfilled. Likewise, at the Gonminmyoung Hua Sheng garment factory in Thayarwaddy, Bago Region, negotiations resulted in 11,500 kyats for daily wages and 2,100 kyats for OT pay. Meanwhile, workers at Myanmar Postarion factory in Shwepyithar Township are still protesting for wage increases.
Although the workers originally demanded a daily wage of 13,000 kyats and 2,500 kyats for OT, most factory owners settled on 11,500 kyats per day and 2,100 kyats for OT as the increased rates.
