Myo Thein
Jan 24, 2026
Workers’ demands have continued for 18 days without resolution at the Tianjin Fashion Milestone garment factory in Hlaingthaya West Township where the Minister of Labour is contesting in the election, according to information received. The factory is located on Seikkantha Road, Shwelinban Industrial Zone, Hlaingthaya Township, Yangon, and the township election will be held tomorrow, Sunday.
“There is an election, so the Labour Office came to mediate only once. After that, we haven’t seen them come again. It’s already been 18 days. We’re really struggling over wages,” said a worker involved in the demands.
Workers said that even before the election, commodity prices and hostel rents had risen, and there has been no longer any overtime work available.
“For about four months we haven’t been able to do overtime. Commodity prices keep rising, to the point where we’re afraid to even go to the market. The hostel where we stay also asked for an increase in room rent, which we had to pay. That’s why we asked for an increase of 1,000 kyats in the daily wage,” a worker said.
Tianjin Fashion Milestone garment workers have put forward 10 demands, but the factory side has only increased the daily wage by 500 kyats, which workers say is why the issue remains unresolved.
“They only increased the daily wage by 500 kyats, and they also said they would pay only 120,000 kyats in wages for the days of the protest, so it’s hard to reach an agreement,” said a female worker. Workers from sewing lines, ironing, cutting, and finishing departments around 700 in total—initially participated in the demands, but currently around 400 workers continue to carry on the protest, according to workers.
“At first there were many. As the days dragged on, supervisors and leaders threatened and called people back. Some workers also had difficulties with wages, and some ended up quitting their jobs,” workers said.
As the protest has continued for a long time, tensions between protesting workers and those still working inside the factory have increased, and there are dangerous situations, according to a female worker.
“The other day, a supervisor from the cutting department spoke to the protesting workers from inside. On our side, there were also responses back. That kind of thing has been happening throughout the protest. If the demands are not resolved and it goes on longer, there will be problems between workers themselves,” she said.
Workers also said that although there has been no negotiation or resolution of their demands, the factory has been hiring new workers and continuing operations.
The Tianjin Fashion Milestone garment factory is owned by Chinese citizen and employs around 1,000 workers.
