By Labour Citizen Journalist - Jul 12, 2025
#Letter
We are being forced into excessive overtime without consent at Mai Yi Bei (Yangon) Garment Manufacturing Co., Ltd—commonly known among workers as "Ghaung Thone Lone" garment factory—located on Pyidaungsu Road, Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaingthaya Township, Yangon Region. Workers have filed complaints requesting action.
The factory is owned by Chinese citizens and manufacture Mister Lady, Clevercare.info, ALCOTT, and ORIGINAL MARINES brands.
Incident Overview
Mai Yi Bei (Yangon) Garment Manufacturing Co., Ltd has been operating with a workforce exceeding 1,000. The factory has no trade union or Workplace Coordination Committee (WCC).
Although officially known by its company name, people widely refer to it as Ghaung Thone Lone. It has been operating for over two years.
Standard working hours are from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM, with regular overtime of two hours.
However, we are being made to work additional hours from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM, and even until dawn, either factory-wide or based on specific lines or sections. These overtime hours are not offered as an option but imposed in a way that leaves workers with no choice but to comply.
In addition to excessive overtime, workers who speak up or express inability to work overtime face retaliation. Supervisors and superiors have reportedly physically assaulted workers, including attempts to beat them with objects like belt buckles and scissors, and resorted to verbal abuse.
Verbal harassment, shouting, and threats have become daily occurrences within the production lines. No actions are taken when we report these issues to factory management, and our complaints go unresolved. Some have left the factory due to this mistreatment, but many are now filing complaints because they can no longer tolerate the abusive practices.
Workers Request the Following:
- Effective action must be taken against the employer for excessive and forced overtime practices due to repeated violations despite complaints and inspections.
- Effective disciplinary action should be taken against supervisors and superiors involved in physically and verbally abusing workers.
