By Hsu Latt Phyu - Oct 01, 2025

#Letter
Summary of Violations

Over 500 workers are currently employed at Myanmar Guotai Huasheng Glory Fashion Garment, located at Plot No. (-), U Htun Nyo Street, Industrial Zone (2), Hlaingtharyar Township, Yangon Region. The factory is Chinese citizen-owned and manufactures clothing for brands such as Rodeo Crowns and LC Waikiki Classic.

The employer is unlawfully demanding production targets that workers cannot meet. Each line has 32 workers, and each line is required to produce over 60 pieces per hour. In addition to these unfair production demands, each worker is being made to sew across two to three points.

Line leaders and supervisors yell and verbally abuse us hen these unrealistic targets are not met. They even summon us into the office and force us to sign reprimands.

We are under pressure to accept reprimands, and we’ve been told by the HR manager that even though reprimands used to expire after one year, now, no matter how long ago it was issued, it will not be voided.

Since August, we’ve been made to work midnight and overnight shifts. We are subjected to threats and coercion if we refuse the overtime requested by the employer.

In August, a line leader from the finishing department physically assaulted a worker, accusing them of dozing off while working. They were also summoned into the office and forced to accept reprimands beyond the physical abuse. The response was to ask for proof when the assaulted worker reported the incident to the manager.

The manager stated that unless a photo was provided, the claim would not be believed. As workers are not allowed to use phones during working hours, there is no photographic evidence, and the manager sides with the abuser, leading to forced reprimands.

Two workers on Line 4 raised concerns about the production targets and spoke loudly. The manager, claiming he overheard them while passing by, summoned them to the office and attempted to force reprimands. When the two workers refused, saying they had done nothing wrong, they were dismissed from the job.

In the ironing section, a male line leader publicly yells and insults both male and female workers if they fail to meet the unrealistic production targets set by the employer.

Labour rights violations at the factory were exposed on social media in July. In response, the factory manager, supervisors, and line leaders threatened to identify and arrest the worker who shared the information, saying they would hand them over to the military.

Supervisors from Lines 15, 16, and 8 now openly state that they don’t care even if we report them because the factory manager and general manager are on their side. Since then, verbal abuse and threats have intensified. Workers who speak up are now warned not to complain and are threatened with retaliation.

We are being forced to work midnight and overnight shifts. As a result, we are sleep-deprived, exhausted, and our health is deteriorating. Only those who are close to the supervisors get their leave approved even when we can no longer continue due to health issues and apply for casual leave.

Workers who are denied leave and miss even a single day lose around 70,000 kyats in deductions. When we return to work, we often have to wait up to 30 minutes outside the factory because the ferry is late. We’ve asked the manager to schedule ferries to arrive on time, and he replied that if we can’t wait for the company-provided ferry, we should make our own arrangements.

This same manager discriminates and takes sides in the workplace, applying one-sided decisions, pressuring workers, and using threats. We, the workers of Myanmar Guotai Huasheng Glory Fashion Garment, respectfully submit this petition to the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM), requesting assistance and intervention.

Workers’ Demands

1. The employer must stop making unlawful production demands that workers cannot meet.
2. The employer must stop pressuring and forcing workers to do overtime, including midnight and overnight shifts.
3. Factory management, including the general manager, supervisors, and line leaders, must stop threatening to hand over workers to the military council.
4. The employer must arrange ferry transportation so that workers are not left waiting outside due to delays.
5. The employer must stop forcing workers to sign reprimands without valid reasons.
6. The employer must ensure that line leaders do not physically abuse workers in the workplace.
7. Supervisors and line leaders must stop verbally abusing and insulting workers.

Assistance seekers:
Myanmar Guotai Huasheng Glory Fashion Garment Workers