Myo Thein
Workers told Solidarity of Trade Union Myanmar that JIMMY Garment Myanmar, a garment factory producing for the ZARA brand, dismissed 261 workers without explanation while also cutting their wages.
According to workers, the factory terminated 261 workers on October 16 without providing any reason and also deducted their wages for two consecutive months. The affected workers said they reported the matter to the labor office.
“Our wages for October and November were cut. We didn’t receive the full amount, and we were never told why the deductions were made. As soon as our wages were cut, we filed complaints,” one worker said.
Workers said they submitted complaints regarding the wage deductions after October salaries were paid, again on November 6, and once more on November 19 after November salaries were issued, but no action was taken to resolve the issue.
“The wages that were deducted include the 1,000-kyat wage increase. The workers who were dismissed were deliberately fired because they formed a union,” another worker said.
Myanmar has ratified ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize. Despite this, workers said the wage deductions remain unresolved to this day, and they continue to face oppression and difficulties inside the workplace.
Workers also reported that overtime is being forced without their consent, gate passes are denied even for urgent personal matters, warning letters are forced on workers, production targets are imposed unreasonably, departments are changed discriminatorily, and workers are verbally abused. Although these issues have been reported to the Ministry of Labor, workers said no resolution has been provided.
“This factory used to operate under the name FOG Glory, where the workers’ union was dismantled. After that, it was renamed JIMMY. Now we are hearing that the factory may change its name again,” one worker said.
According to posts shared on Solidarity of Trade Union Myanmar’s social media, JIMMY Garment produces ZARA-branded clothing through subcontracting arrangements with Chi Mei and Jia Mei garment factories.
JIMMY Garment (Myanmar) Co., Ltd. is located on Industrial Road (7), Shwepyitha Industrial Zone (1), Shwepyitha Township, Yangon.
