Myo Thein
Feb 23, 2026
Workers at Hanfex Garment Co., Ltd say the factory has been forcing employees to work overtime against their will and dismissed a worker who refused, according to the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM).
“A worker had informed the factory in advance that they could not work overtime, but supervisors followed them as far as the ferry and tried to pull them back by their shirt. Later, management told the manager they did not want a worker who could not work overtime and dismissed them immediately,” an IWFM official said.
A worker who witnessed the incident said a leader involved in the dismissal told the employee, “When we call for night overtime because it’s urgent, you have no reason to refuse.”
Workers said the factory sets high production targets and requires overtime if the targets are not met, insisting garments be completed regardless of the time required.
“The factory demands production quotas. They force us to work overtime until the garments are done. Each worker has to sew two to three points per piece, and over time it becomes impossible to complete the work,” one worker said.
Workers said that if garments are not finished after midnight overtime, they are required to continue working until 4 a.m., and then return to regular shifts the next morning without rest. Although each worker sews two to three points per garment, they are reportedly paid for only one point. In addition, while the factory initially promised a daily wage of 12,000 kyats during recruitment, workers said they were paid only 8,000 kyats per day when wages were issued.
“This is exploitation. We are being underpaid in wages and piece rates. No action was taken when we raised the issue with the female manager. Instead, the workers who complained were noted and pressured in coordination with line leaders,” a worker said.
The factory is a two-story building, and workers said those on the upper floor are not allowed to go downstairs to drink water.
“We’re not allowed to go downstairs for water. We have to ask the line clerk to get it for us. It’s very inconvenient. We’re also told not to leave our sewing stations,” another worker said.
Workers also said there is no clinic inside the workplace. One injured worker had to seek treatment at an outside clinic and was later dismissed for taking medical leave.
Hanfex Garment factory is located on 2nd Street in Ngwepinle Industrial Zone, Hlaingtharyar Township, Yangon, and employs more than 700 workers. The factory is Chinese-owned and manufactures garments for the Celio brand.
