Myo Thein
Mar 07, 2026
Workers at ILTERU Myanmar Co., Ltd garment factory say they have not received social security cards despite working at the factory for several years. The factory has been operating for more than four years, and workers say monthly social security contributions are deducted from their wages.
“Every month the factory deducts the social security contribution from our wages, but even workers who have been working for years still haven’t received their cards. When we ask, they keep saying they will give them later, but we never receive them. Some workers have already left the factory without getting their social security cards. We don’t know whether the factory is actually paying the social security taxes or not,” a worker said.
Although around 500 workers are employed at the factory, most of them reportedly have not received social security cards.
Workers also said they cannot take casual leave or service leave as stipulated by law, and even when they request such leave, it is not granted. In addition, workers say the factory allows resignation letters to be submitted on only one specific day, and if workers fail to submit their resignation on that day, the factory refuses to pay their salary.
“The factory only accepts resignation letters on the 20th of the month if we want to resign. They will not release our salary if we fail to submit the letter on the 20th, and we have to wait until the 20th of the next month,” a worker said.
Workers say the factory’s rules do not comply with labour laws and are causing losses for workers. They also said overtime wages are not calculated according to the law.
“The overtime pay is not given according to the law. We want it to be paid in line with the legal requirements,” a worker said. An official from the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) said workers are requesting overtime wages to be calculated based on the daily wage as stipulated by law.
Workers also said daily production targets continue to increase and that line leaders and supervisors frequently shout, scold, and threaten workers.
“The scolding and abusive language make workers feel humiliated while working,” workers said.
Although the factory has a clinic, workers say it only provides basic medicines such as balm, oral rehydration salts, and paracetamol, while other types of medicine are unavailable.
A female worker also said the toilets, which are important for hygiene and health, are damaged.
“There is often no water, and when water does come, it is not clean. I don’t know about male workers, but for female workers this creates health problems,” she said.
Workers also said there is no Workplace Coordination Committee (WCC) or trade union at the factory, leaving workers without a platform to raise their concerns.
“Even factory rules should comply with labour laws. Right now, workers feel unprotected. When something happens in the workplace, we don’t even know who we can report to or ask for help,” workers said.
