Myo Thein
Jan 15, 2026

Workers say that at the Chi Mei garment factory in Shwepyitha Industrial Zone, the QC manager is forcing workers to work overtime through pressure. Workers said that the departments mainly required to work overtime on the factory floor are the production lines, QC, and ironing departments.

“What happens in the QC department is that the manager himself has never worked overtime even once, but he forces the workers to do it. If we don’t, he says, ‘The backlog of garments is piling up because of you, not because of me. You can’t not work overtime,’” a worker said.

More than 50 workers are employed in the QC department, and workers said that in December alone they worked overtime overnight eight times, and twice so far in January. Workers said they work two hours of overtime every day and have to continue working straight after the lunch break.

“We work two hours of overtime every day. Once we finish eating, there’s no more break time. The factory side says they’re not forcing overtime and that departments should arrange it themselves. But they don’t say anything about department leaders themselves forcing us,” a worker said.

Workers said that although the factory provides 3,000 kyats for meals and 500 kyats for transport home whenever they work night overtime, the amounts are not sufficient. In addition, workers said they are also facing workplace discrimination.

“Among QC workers in the factory, only line QCs receive bonuses. QCs from other departments don’t get them. In reality, since the work is done collectively, everyone should be paid equally,” they said.

The CHI MEI INTERNATIONAL COMPANY LIMITED garment factory is located at the former Honor Apparel garment factory site on Pale Road, Industrial Zone (3), Shwepyitha Township, Yangon . It is known to be a Chinese-owned factory employing more than 900 workers and producing garments for brands such as Rafinat and Knox Village.