By Mu Dra - Jul 23, 2025
Workers at Casico Garment Limited, a garment factory located on Seik Kan Thar Road, Industrial Zone 3, Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon Region, are demanding an end to illegal dismissals and improvements to unhealthy workplace conditions.
Casico Garment Limited, owned by a South Korean citizen, employs over 400 workers and manufacture the musinsa standard brand.
In June, after workers held protests demanding wage increases, probationary workers who participated were illegally dismissed by the employer. Only after all workers protested further did pressure from supervisors increase. Workers say they are now facing retaliation and discrimination, and have reported this to the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM).
Workers say they are being made to work from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM regularly, and are forced to do overtime from 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM. They are also forced to work overtime even on Sundays, their scheduled off-day. They face scolding and discriminatory treatment, if they refuse employer-mandated overtime.
Workers say a bad smell spreads throughout the factory as toilets and wastewater drainage are connected together, making it hard to breathe. Eating meals becomes difficult and workers are experiencing health issues since the toilet is located near the dining area.
Workers say they are not allowed to take leave, and their earned leave is cut when they miss work. Piece rate bonuses are deducted, and they face verbal abuse from management in the workplace, which leaves them feeling humiliated on the job.
Workers at Casico Garment Limited are demanding the following:
1. The employer must only assign production targets that workers can reasonably achieve.
2. The employer must allow workers to take the leaves they are entitled to.
3. Supervisors and line leaders must stop verbally abusing workers when demanding higher production targets.
4. The employer must repair the toilet and drainage system to stop the spread of foul odor.
5. The employer must stop illegally dismissing workers.
