By Thar Gyi - Jun 28, 2025

Workers told the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) that Myanmar Fortress Wealth Garment Co., Ltd is cutting wages and entitlements, including daily wages and other benefits, without granting leave as stipulated by labor law. The factory imposes a penalty fee of 12,000 kyats and 30,000 kyats deducction from attendance bonus, and workers said they are not allowed to take casual or medical leave.

“We contribute to social security every month, but we can’t use social security medical leave. They deduct daily wages, attendance bonuses, and fabric fees if we miss even one day.

It’s worse when using social security medical leave. Not only do they deduct wages, but they pay only 6,800 kyats daily wage and 1,200 kyats per hour for overtime for the entire month in which the absent was occurred. We don’t dare take a day offeven when we’re sick,” workers said.

Clerks and supervisors monitor workers inside the workplace and 6,800 kyats daily wages and 1,200 kyats overtime pay per hours are cut, if they decide someone isn’t working, workers said.

Workers said one sewing line with 60 workers is required to meet a target of over 90 pieces per hour. Workers can’t freely sew at their own pace as it is a piece-rate system, and they are scolded and yelled at by supervisors if targets aren’t met.

“The fabric we sew includes slippery and stretchy knit materials. Some workers can’t even go to the restroom, and some can’t even drink water in order to meet the target. The supervisors and line leaders pressure us to this extent,” one worker said.

Myanmar Fortress Wealth Garment Co., Ltd is a Chinese citizen-owned factory located in Myazin Green Industrial Zone, Hlaingtharya Township, Yangon. Over 1,500 workers are employed there, and the factory manufactures the SPORT-TEK brand.