By Hsu Latt Phyu - Sep 17, 2025
Workers at HY Huiyin Garment Factory in Ruili, Dehong District, Yunnan Province, China, where more than 300 Myanmar workers are producing garments under the "Travel" brand, have reached out to the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) for assistance, stating they are being forced to work without any days off.
“They’re demanding unreasonable production targets such as 100 pieces per hour from a line of just 30 workers. We have to work overtime during holidays and overnight or midnight shifts without any pay. The factory sets off-days as the 1st, 9th, 16th, and 23rd of each month, but we never actually get those days off. The supervisors and line leaders yell at us If we refuse overtime and force us to work. They also retaliate by increasing our workload,” said one worker.
Workers say their health has begun to deteriorate due to these extended working hours without rest.
“Our pay is deducted for taking leave if we fall sick and need a break,” they added. Moreover, workersare facing difficulties buying basic women’s hygiene products and medicine as they are not allowed to leave the factory compound. They have asked for urgent assistance to resolve these issues.
The workers have called for help with the following demands:
- Employers must only set realistic production targets that workers can meet.
- Supervisors and line leaders must stop yelling or verbally abusing workers when setting targets.
- Workers must not be forced to work unpaid overtime (overnight or midnight) when they fail to meet targets.
- Employers must grant proper rest days and not force workers to do overtime on designated off-days.
