By Hsu Latt Phyu - Aug 13, 2025

Workers at the Mila Garden Shoe Factory, located on Factory Road, Pyitawthar Ward, Hlegu Township, Yangon, are demanding wage increases. The factory currently employs over 3,000 workers.

Workers stated that the demands have been ongoing since yesterday. Their requests include a daily wage of 12,000 kyats, overtime pay of 2,500 kyats per hour, an attendance bonus of 60,000 kyats, and an annual bonus of 5,000 kyats.

They said the current rates—4,800 kyats daily wage, 2,000 kyats subsidy, and 1,700 kyats per hour for overtime—are no longer sufficient to meet the rising cost of living.

“We just want fair wages at a time like this when prices are soaring. Workers are under pressure from both above and below, and we don’t have any proper entitlements. We even have to pay 10,000 kyats per month for the ferry,” one worker told Myanmar Labour News.

Workers said they were also threatened with prosecution under Section 66(d) if they posted about the demands on social media.

No agreement has yet been reached although discussions are currently underway between the employer, worker representatives, and officials from the Social Security Office.

“Unlike other factories, we get almost nothing here. If they would just give us something fair, that would help. A single worker earns about 400,000 kyats only when working through all public holidays and full overtime shifts. It’s impossible without overtime. We want fair and equal pay for equal work. We don’t even get ferry transport allowances. The leaders pressure the drivers if we don’t take the designated bus. That’s not okay either. We just want the freedom to take any bus on the same line. Everyone who rides the ferry is the same. The Burmese supervisors also should treat everyone equally and fairly,” said another worker.