By Min Ni Kyaw - May 27, 2025

Workers at WHN Garment factory report that their skill-based bonuses were deducted during the 10-day Thingyan holiday, causing financial hardship. According to workers, about 40% of their monthly skill bonus was cut due to the holiday period.

“They calculated the skill bonus based on 30 days and only paid for 20 working days for the 10-day Thingyan break. For example, a Grade A worker was supposed to get 100,000 kyats, but they only received around 60,000 kyats,” workers said.

WHN Garment employs around 500 workers and manufactures ET VOUS, PROMOD, CALLOPE, and PUNT brands, according to the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM). Although the factory deducts skill bonuses for days off, workers say their daily living expenses remain unchanged, leading to greater financial difficulties.

“Our wages aren’t enough to cover our expenses. It becomes even harder when they deduct skill bonuses for the 10 Thingyan days. Just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean we don’t have to pay rent or buy food,” workers said.

WHN Garment factory operates on Sayarsan Road,Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone 2, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon, and is owned by a Chinese national.