By Myo Thein - Nov 03, 2025
Workers at Myanmar Jiale 1 garment factory report ongoing violations of labour rights in the workplace.
They say they have faced issues such as delayed salary payments, being forced to work overtime on holidays, and unjust dismissals; all of which they consider violations of their rights.
“Salaries are paid late beyond the promised date. And when we do get paid, there are unexplained deductions. We never receive the full amount. The factory doesn’t close even on public holidays, and we’re required to work,” workers said.
They added that they are still required to work overtime without exception despite official public holidays including Sundays, Diwali, and the Thadingyut full moon day.
“We only get one day off out of the three for this year’s Tazaungdaing holiday. We have to work overtime on the other two. There have also been cases of workers being dismissed, and it’s the Myanmar female manager who’s been firing people,” a worker said.
In one incident, two workers who had a verbal disagreement were both dismissed, but only one was later reinstated, which workers say reflects unfair treatment.
The factory reportedly hires large numbers of daily wage workers, who are frequently dismissed without clear reasons.
“Some of the daily wage workers are just 16 or 17 years old. Every three months, they are asked to fill out new forms, as if they’re being rehired. Some of us have been working here for over a year, but they still treat us like temporary hires. They fire us even without cause. When labour inspectors come, the factory hides these workers by giving them unpaid leave. It’s all a cover-up,” workers claimed.
They also said the Myanmar female manager has a pattern of terminating workers easily, while the male WCC (Workplace Coordination Committee) member remains silent and fails to speak up on behalf of workers, resulting in widespread disadvantage.
Workers further complained that the factory’s shuttle buses are consistently late and that drivers are sometimes under the influence of alcohol.
“The shuttle service is always late. Sometimes the drivers drink alcohol before driving. And inside the factory, we often don’t have access to drinking water. These are just some of the problems we’re facing,” they said.
Myanmar Jiale 1 factory is manufacturing garments for brands such as Sinsay, Punt Roma, and fulfilling orders from Japan. It is located in Min Ayar Road, Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone, Hlaingtharyar Township, Yangon, and employs around 1,000 workers, according to the workers' accounts.
