By Myo Thein - Oct 07, 2025
Workers at HYUN TEX Garment Factory (a new branch of Sujin Factory) in Shwe Pauk Kan Industrial Zone report to Myanmar Labour News that over 1,000 employees are being forced to work overnight shifts, leading to sleep deprivation, health issues, and violations of workers' rights.
“They force us to do night shifts saying, ‘We need to meet export deadlines.’ They make us work day and night shift overtimes almost every day from Monday to Saturday. We are doing night shifts every other day,” one worker said.
Workers also reported that when one woman filed a complaint with the labour office after being threatened with dismissal for refusing a night shift, she was blacklisted, which has created fear among others to speak up.
Workers are required to continue from 7 PM until 12 AM the next day, every other night although the regular day shift ends at 6:15 PM.
“The factory tells us that the ferry can’t take everyone home at 5 AM after the night shift ends. So, we have to travel the rest of the way home on our own, paying out of pocket,” workers explained.
After completing a night shift, some workers must sleep inside the factory, but due to inadequate rest and a quick turnaround for the day shift, they are facing health problems.
“We can’t rest at night, and we can’t rest during the day either. We get home early in the morning, quickly shower, and go back to work. We can’t work during the day without proper sleep. We lose a day's wage if we miss work due to illness. Even though we get a night shift allowance, it’s not enough to cover the pay cuts from absences,” one worker said.
Workers also shared that line managers and area supervisors are pressuring those who refuse night shifts by telling them to “find a new job.”
There is reportedly no emergency alert system inside the factory, and workers have not been issued name cards.
HYUN TEX’s new garment factory is located on Zekabar (7) Road, Shwe Pauk Kan Industrial Zone, Yangon, and is owned by a South Korean national.
The new facility houses 17 production lines and is currently manufacturing for international brands such as Feltics, Volcom, Dewalt, as well as Korean and Japanese apparel labels, according to the workers.
