Wages, Working Hours, Occupational Safety, and Violations of Human Dignity (or) 2025 November Violations

Myanmar Labour Society publishes monthly reports on findings from monitoring human rights, international standards, and legal violations in Myanmar’s labor sector.

These findings are primarily based on monitoring and reviewing news published on the Myanmar Labour News website and its social media pages. According to a media officer, the news published by Myanmar Labour News is based on solid information obtained directly from workers themselves, as well as through labor federations, labor unions, and assistance organizations.

During November, there were 26 factories and workplaces reported to have committed labor rights and legal violations. Among them were 24 garment factories, 1 footwear factory, and 1 glue factory. The garment factories and footwear factory fall under the CMP (Cut-Make-Pack) business model.

CMP businesses are among the top contributors to Myanmar’s export earnings. During the 2022–2023 fiscal year, over an 11-month period, CMP garment exports reportedly generated USD 4.7 billion. In addition, the CMP sector accounted for up to 26% of the total export value during a period that occurred under the current military rule.

Therefore, although CMP businesses generate significant national income, it can be said that labor rights and legal violations are also widespread within these industries.

During the past November, Myanmar Labour Society identified four main types of labor rights and legal violations. These are:

1. Violations related to wages and benefits
2. Violations related to working hours and forced labor
3. Violations related to occupational safety and health
4. Violations related to human dignity and worker representation

Factories and Products Reported in the News During November 2025

Labor law violations are listed in descending order by frequency. During November, no factory or workplace was reported more than once in the news.

1. Violations Related to Wages and Benefits

Numerous violations related to wages and benefits were identified during November. Myanmar Labour Society views these violations as issues that directly affect workers’ wages and their legally guaranteed entitlements.

Wage Deductions and Non-Payment

During November, this category ranked as the number one labor rights violation, involving a total of 19 factories. The incidence rate reached as high as 73 percent.

Cases were found where overtime (OT) wages were not paid, not fully paid, or workers were forced to work in lieu of overtime pay. These practices violate Myanmar’s Working Hours and Rest Days Law as well as the ILO Protection of Wages Convention (C95).

In addition, wages were unlawfully deducted for various reasons, including deductions of attendance bonuses, daily wages, and grade bonuses without granting leave; forced collection of donations; failure of fingerprint attendance records; and failure to meet production targets. Such practices were found to infringe upon workers’ legal rights.

Workers were also found to be experiencing violations of compensation laws, as legally mandated entitlements such as severance pay, maternity benefits, and service-related leave were not paid when workers resigned or were dismissed.

Furthermore, violations of the ILO Equal Remuneration Convention (C100) were also identified, including cases where cleaners and underage young workers were required to perform the same work as adult workers but were not paid equal wages.

These wage deduction violations were found in factories including GY Sen, Jiang Su Soho Myanmar Industry Co., Ltd, Jin Kai Hai Co., Ltd, Jin Shi Yuan, Lita Myanmar Co., Ltd, Long Pine Co., Ltd, Myanmar Bestfortune Garment Co., Ltd, Myanmar Fortress Wealth Garment, Myanmar Guotai Huasheng, Myanmar Huasheng Golden Fashion Co., Ltd, Myanmar Jiale 1, Sen Yu Clothings Myanmar Co., Ltd, Shins Sung (6), Shuangxi Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd, Shun Yu Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd, Style Smart Myanmar Garment Factory, True Green City, Victor House Co., Ltd, and Win Land Co., Ltd. Most of these factories are garment factories, and one glue factory was also included.

2. Violations Related to Working Hours and Forced Labor

These violations ranked as the second and third most frequent during November. They include forced overtime and coercion and intimidation.

There were 15 factories that forced overtime work and up to 18 factories that used coercion and intimidation. As a total of 26 factories committed violations during the month, these violations accounted for more than 50 percent.

Excessive and Forced Overtime

Among the violations were cases where workers were compelled to work overtime without their consent, threats of dismissal used as pressure, and warnings that daily wages or attendance pay would be reduced. Forcing workers to work overtime on Sundays and public holidays violates the Working Hours and Rest Days Law and constitutes forced labor.

Cases were also found where workers were required to arrive at the workplace 10 to 15 minutes early, were not given full meal and rest breaks, and where meetings were held during meal times. These practices violate workers’ legally guaranteed right to rest.

It was also found that workers were marked as absent and had their wages deducted without being granted leave or leave benefits, effectively denying workers the right to take leave for health issues and personal matters. Myanmar Labour News has also noted that denial of leave and leave benefits occurs in more than 90 percent of currently operating CMP-type factories.

Factories found to be forcing overtime without workers’ consent include Delo Myanmar Garment, Ever Lead Myanmar, Grand Forest International Apparel, GY Sen, Jin Shi Yuan, Lita Myanmar Co., Ltd, Mai Yi Bei, Myanmar Bestfortune Garment Co., Ltd, Myanmar Fortress Wealth Garment, Myanmar Jiale 1, Myanmar Ju Chuan, Sen Yu Clothings Myanmar Co., Ltd, Shun Yu Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd, Style Smart Myanmar Garment Factory, and Win Land Co., Ltd. Among these, 14 are garment factories and the remaining one is a footwear factory.

Factories found to be designating absences and deducting wages and entitlements without granting leave or leave benefits include Da Mei Myanmar Co., Ltd, Jin Kai Hai Co., Ltd, Lita Myanmar Co., Ltd, Long Pine Co., Ltd, Myanmar Fortress Wealth Garment, Myanmar Guotai Huasheng, Myanmar Huasheng Golden Fashion Co., Ltd, Shins Sung (6), Shuangxi Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd, Victor House Co., Ltd, and Win Land Co., Ltd. These are all garment factories.

Factories found to be failing to provide full rest breaks include Da Mei Myanmar Co., Ltd, Long Pine Co., Ltd, Myanmar Bestfortune Garment Co., Ltd, Myanmar Ju Chuan, and Win Land Co., Ltd, and include both garment factories and a footwear factory.

3. Violations Related to Occupational Safety and Health

From news reports published during November, Myanmar Labour Society identified cases where workplace safety, physical health, and workplace security were neglected.

Unsafe and Inadequate Workplace Conditions

During November, as many as 14 factories and workplaces were found to have inadequate safety and security conditions. The violations included poor workplace conditions, lack of medical supplies, inadequate drinking water and sanitation facilities, and failure to resolve transportation problems related to factory shuttle services.

Poor ventilation inside factories and dizziness caused by malfunctioning fans indicate failure to ensure a safe workplace as required under the ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention (C155).

Cases were found where there were no first-aid rooms, insufficient or absent medical supplies, and no nurses on site. Such conditions constitute violations of the obligation to provide emergency health care.

Unsanitary or insufficient toilets, interruptions in drinking water supply, and foul-smelling water were reported within workplaces, indicating violations of basic human rights and workplace hygiene standards in factories and workplaces.

Factories found to have inadequate workplace conditions include Grand Forest International Apparel, Jiang Su Soho Myanmar Industry Co., Ltd, Jin Kai Hai Co., Ltd, Jin Shi Yuan, Myanmar Bestfortune Garment Co., Ltd, Myanmar Fortress Wealth Garment, Myanmar Guotai Huasheng, Myanmar Jiale 1, Myanmar Ju Chuan, Shins Sung (6), Shun Yu Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd, Style Smart Myanmar Garment Factory, Victor House Co., Ltd, and Win Land Co., Ltd. Among these, one is a footwear factory and the remaining 13 are garment factories.

4. Violations Related to Human Dignity and Worker Representation

These violations include oppression, bullying, discrimination against workers within the workplace, and restrictions on forming associations.

Verbal Abuse, Harassment, and Threats

During November, verbal abuse and pressure exerted by supervisors and foreign staff constituted violations of the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention (C190), as such actions harm human dignity. A total of eight factories were reported to have workplace verbal abuse, and all of them are garment factories.

These factories are Da Mei Myanmar Co., Ltd, Jin Kai Hai Co., Ltd, Myanmar Guotai Huasheng, Sheng Tai, Shuangxi Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd, Shun Yu Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd, Victor House Co., Ltd, and Win Land Co., Ltd.

The factory where security personnel committed sexual harassment was Lita Myanmar Co., Ltd, a garment factory. Such harassment constitutes a serious violation of workplace safety and women’s rights.

Myanmar Labour Society has identified that forced demands for production targets are occurring at a rate of 100 percent across factories and workplaces in the current garment sector. Related forms of intimidation include threats of dismissal, humiliating verbal abuse, forcing workers to stand for punishment, and reductions or deductions of benefits such as daily wages, attendance bonuses, and grade bonuses, which workers continue to endure.

During November, garment factories reported to have used coercion, threats, and forced production targets include Da Mei Myanmar Co., Ltd, Ever Lead Myanmar, Grand Forest International Apparel, Jiang Su Soho Myanmar Industry Co., Ltd, Long Pine Co., Ltd, Myanmar Fortress Wealth Garment, Myanmar Guotai Huasheng, Sen Yu Clothings Myanmar Co., Ltd, Shuangxi Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd, Shun Yu Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd, Style Smart Myanmar Garment Factory, and Victor House Co., Ltd.

Restrictions on the Right to Form Labor Organizations

Preventing workers from forming labor organizations and dismissing workers who attempt to organize constitute fundamental violations of the Labor Organization Law and the ILO Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (C87).

During November, such violations were found at two garment factories: Sen Yu Clothings Myanmar Co., Ltd and Sheng Tai.

The current military regime has prohibited the formation of organizations under the name of labor unions using various justifications and is instead pushing for the establishment of WCCs (Workplace Coordinating Committees). As a consequence of this pressure, employers arbitrarily select committee members and force workers to vote to formally approve committees that are formed by management itself. As a result, workers often do not know who the WCC members are, receive no assistance when problems arise, and are ignored by factory management, which instead exerts pressure and exercises unilateral control to increase production.

Such conditions result in the loss of genuine worker representation and lead to the erosion of labor rights due to deception and manipulation by factory management.

Factories where workers are suffering due to the failure to establish WCCs in accordance with the law include Ever Lead Myanmar, GY Sen, Jiang Su Soho Myanmar Industry Co., Ltd, Long Pine Co., Ltd, Myanmar Bestfortune Garment Co., Ltd, Myanmar Jiale 1, Shins Sung (6), Shun Yu Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd, and Win Land Co., Ltd. These are garment factories.

Discrimination and Dismissals

The dismissal of workers who participated in demands, those with identity registration issues, and long-serving daily wage workers constitutes unfair dismissal and discriminatory practices. In November alone, more than 300 garment workers were dismissed on the grounds of identity documentation issues.

A total of 12 factories were found to have cases of unfair dismissal. These factories are Da Mei Myanmar Co., Ltd, Grand Forest International Apparel, Jiang Su Soho Myanmar Industry Co., Ltd, Lita Myanmar Co., Ltd, Long Pine Co., Ltd, Myanmar Guotai Huasheng, Myanmar Huasheng Golden Fashion Co., Ltd, Myanmar Jiale 1, Sen Yu Clothings Myanmar Co., Ltd, Sheng Tai, Shins Sung (6), and Style Smart Myanmar Garment Factory.

Factories where workplace discrimination was reported include GY Sen, Myanmar Guotai Huasheng, Sen Yu Clothings Myanmar Co., Ltd, Shun Yu Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd, and Win Land Co., Ltd. These are garment factories.

The unlawful employment and discriminatory treatment of underage young workers constitute violations of child labor laws.

Factories reported to be employing child labor include Da Mei Myanmar Co., Ltd, Myanmar Fortress Wealth Garment, Myanmar Jiale 1, Shuangxi Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd, and Shun Yu Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd.

As a notable point during November, inspections were conducted at two factories, and news reports stated that no significant changes were observed at either factory. The factory reported to have resolved issues satisfactorily was the True Green glue factory, where it was learned that negotiations were successfully conducted at the labor office.

The findings of Myanmar Labour Society are intended to contribute to reforms in the labor sector and are presented with the hope that they will be useful to decision-makers on labor issues, labor federations, labor unions, assistance organizations, and workers themselves.

Myanmar Labour News Background

Myanmar Labour News (MLN) is Myanmar’s first independent digital media platform led by young people. It places special focus on the labor sector in Myanmar and works to promote freedom of expression, workplace justice, and equal access for all workers to labor rights. MLN aims to ensure that information is easily and clearly understood and to support the social development of basic working communities.

Myanmar Labour Society

Myanmar Labour Society (MLS) focuses on collecting information and conducting research; producing monthly and annual reports; delivering trainings to disseminate knowledge on labor rights; training freelance reporters to document and expose labor rights violations; and providing vocational education to support workers’ education, health, and understanding of labor laws.

Support and assistance are invited to enable the continued publication of Myanmar Labour News’s monthly reports and the production of high-quality monthly and annual reports.

Support and assistance are invited to enable the continued publication of Myanmar Labour News’s monthly reports and the production of high-quality monthly and annual reports.

Myanmar Labour Society
Research Team