By Min Ni Kyaw - May 10, 2025

Workers at Rainbow Tec Myanmar garment factory say that although the company claims to hire under a three-month probation period, they are not being transitioned into permanent positions even after working for over a year.

“The factory hires workers and has them sign a contract. We’re not allowed to read what’s in it. We just have to sign. They say the probation period is three months, and after that, we’ll be made permanent. But even when it’s completed, they don’t make us permanent,” workers said.

Workers are terminated and required to reapply as new hires if they wish to continue working after the three-month probation ends, effectively restarting the process. This practice prevents them from receiving legal rights tied to permanent employment, they said.

“We have to reapply as if we’re new if we want to keep working. They put us back on another three-month probation. Some workers have done this for a full year. Still, they’re not permanent. The factory is deliberately bypassing the law. As we’re daily-wage workers, we get no legal rights or entitlements. They can fire us at any time without reason,” said the workers.

Due to poor hygiene conditions inside the factory, restrooms are overflowing and emit foul odors, making them unusable for workers.

“There’s also not enough health care. We eat lunch in a narrow walkway. We still have to eat in that same spot whether it’s sunny or heavy rain,” workers added.

Rainbow Tec Myanmar garment factory, owned by Chinese national, is located on U Htun Nyo Road, Industrial Zone (2), Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon. According to the Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM), the factory currently employs over 1,000 workers and manufactures Sinsay and KARRIMOR brands.