By Yoon Sat - May 06, 2025

Myanmar Jiale Fashion factory has suspended its operations as of May 5 due to failure to pay workers’ wages, according to employees at the factory.

Located near Alae Village bus stop on Bamaw Atwin Wun Road, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, the Chinese national-owned factory employs around 500 workers, they said.

"On the 5th, the factory called us in and said the boss couldn’t be reached anymore. Kevin, one of the factory's supervisors, spoke through a translator and said we would be paid 150,000 kyats on the 6th and the rest on the 8th. But since the May 8 payment is not guaranteed, workers refused to continue working,” said one worker.

The wages due for April reportedly range from a minimum of 400,000 kyats to a maximum of 600,000 kyats per worker. As neither the manager nor other factory officials could guarantee payment, workers filed a complaint with the township labor office. However, the office did not intervene on that day, workers claimed.

On May 6, all workers staged a work stoppage due to the unpaid wages, prompting the labor office to finally come to the factory, though negotiations did not go smoothly, the workers said.

“We didn’t even receive the promised 150,000 kyats today. Work has stopped entirely, and workers are just sitting inside the factory. Some are waiting outside. The labor office is here, but talks with the factory aren’t going well. They’ve started recording inventory of the sewing machines and other equipment. Meanwhile, workers are really struggling,” said one of the employees.

Workers explained that they rely on wages paid on the designated payday to cover rent, meals, and loan payments, and the current delay has led to financial hardship.