By Myo Thein
Feb 20, 2026
Workers at Saifeom International Garment Myanmar say the factory is preparing to hold a Workplace Coordination Committee (WCC) election without disclosing the names of candidates, according to statements made to the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM).
“The factory said voting will take place on February 20, and ballots will be counted afterward. But we still don’t know who the candidates are, and we don’t know how the votes will be counted,” workers said.
Employees told Myanmar Labour News that they want to nominate representatives who can effectively negotiate and defend workers’ rights. However, they allege that factory management requested one representative per production line without prior consultation, discussion, or clear explanation of the selection process.
“There is no transparency from the factory. We are worried about possible irregularities since the procedures for selecting representatives were not announced in advance,” a worker said.
A labour affairs expert told Myanmar Labour News that there is no detailed legal framework strictly prescribing how WCC elections must be conducted, but the process should reflect the will of workers and be carried out in a free and fair manner.
Workers said that although voting is scheduled for February 20, the announcement was posted publicly only on February 18, giving little time for preparation. They argue that the process does not align with principles of transparency, fairness, and independence in electing worker representatives.
Last year’s WCC members, whose term expired in December 2025, were criticized by workers for failing to effectively address labor rights violations. This time, workers say they want the freedom to elect representatives of their own choosing, without restrictions.
“It may not match who we truly want if it’s limited to one representative per line. We want to nominate and vote for people who can genuinely stand up for workers’ rights,” a worker said.
The election of WCC representatives typically involves forming an election committee, issuing official announcements, defining constituencies, ensuring nominations are free from managerial interference, verifying and approving candidates, conducting campaign activities, and confirming results through a voting process.
Saifeom International Garment Myanmar employs more than 1,700 workers. The current WCC members’ term officially ended in December 2025.
