By Min Ni Kyaw - Feb 11, 2025
Workers from San Yu Garment Factory are being verbally abused and threatened by supervisors for refusing to work overtime, according to factory employees.
San Yu Garment Factory is owned by a Chinese national and employs around 1,500 workers, producing brands such as SinSay, ENCUENTEO, and TOG 24.
“The supervisors on Line 5, Line 7, and Line 12 are extremely harsh. They curse, yell, and threaten us constantly. They tell us to quit if we can’t tolerate their treatment. If we refuse to do all-day or all-night OT, they call us ‘useless, stubborn fools’ and insult us aggressively. Some supervisors even say, ‘My brother is a soldier,’ or ‘My brother is a thug.’ they tell us, ‘Go report it wherever you want, I don’t care,’ if we don’t like how they treat us,” workers said.
The factory also confiscates workers’ mobile phones during working hours, making it difficult for them to stay in touch with their families or handle medical emergencies, workers reported.
Despite filing complaints with the Township Labor Office, workers say that no action has been taken, leaving them completely unprotected.
“We called the labor office to report these issues. They did come but just ate and drank whatever the management provided and left. They did nothing to ensure workers’ safety or rights. The factory refuse to give us gate passes to leave even if we are unwell and unable to continue working. We have no choice but to keep working, even when we can’t,” a worker said.
Workers reported that supervisors and their associates receive gate passes easily, while regular workers face discrimination.
The factory frequently hires daily wage workers, but immediately fires them when order volumes decrease.
Additionally, workers said that some supervisors deliberately deny workers skill level promotions (grading) if they take leave, causing financial losses for employees.
“The Wellon Department supervisor refuses to grant them a skill level promotion If a worker takes even one day off. Workers have to work under extreme heat, even on Sundays in the heat press section. Some workers develop sores on their thighs due to prolonged exposure to the machines, but even then, the factory doesn’t care. Instead, they curse and threaten workers, telling them to report their complaints wherever they want,” workers said.
Due to the unjust working conditions, extreme verbal abuse, and threats, workers at San Yu Garment Factory have reported the situation to the Federation of Garment Workers. Myanmar (FGWM). The organization is currently monitoring the case.
The factory is located at, Bhamaw Atwin Wun Road, near A-Wine Bus Stop, Middle Village (Gate 53), Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Yangon.
