By Thar Gyi - Jul 01, 2025

Workers said that although salaries were slightly raised following wage increase demands in May and June, room rents have gone up as well.

“The rent went from 70,000 kyats to 100,000 kyats this June. This is happening especially around Yoogyi and Htantapin areas, near Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone. The owners tell us not to stay if we can’t pay what they ask,” they said.

Workers added that the rise in dormitory rent and living expenses began in early 2025 and has increased by nearly 50% over the past six months.

They continued that monthly room rent was about 60,000 kyats around the end of 2024.

A dormitory owner near one of the industrial zones said, “We raised the rent by 5,000 kyats per room for June. Electricity has been out for nearly a month. We have to run water pumps and generators, so we raised it just for that. We’re not asking for 30,000–40,000 kyat more like others.”

A domestic-migrant worker said that tenants not only pay separately for electricity and water but also have to cover their own security-related expenses in dormitories around Hlaingthaya Township and nearby areas.

“I’ve been living in this room for over 4 years. It has an attached bathroom and toilet. I’ve had to buy and install things like pipes, faucets, locks, door parts, and light bulbs myself since I moved in. Everything is self-provided. On top of that, there’s a neighborhood security fee and registration fee, which adds up to over 130,000 kyats. The daily wage we get doesn’t even reach 120,000 kyats a month. We had to plead by walking on the edge of prison for the recent wage increase,” they said.

Hlaingthaya Township is said to be home to Yangon’s largest industrial zones, with an estimated population of nearly 1 million. a large number of migrant workers live in dormitories in the area due to the abundance of job opportunities.