By Min Ni Kyaw - Mar 31, 2025
Workers from the Dishang Fashion (Myanmar) garment factory said that a former trade union leader was forcefully dismissed on the grounds that he was not trying to re-establish the union. The factory, which employs over 800 workers, is owned by a Chinese national, according to the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM).
"The factory delayed salary payments on the payday in February. The supervisor was helping those who worked overtime and those who needed to send money to families in their hometowns by writing gate passes. Then HR came and told us not to take gate passes for overtime, and to stay in the canteen. They said we could leave after we received our salaries, or we could leave if we couldn’t wait for the salaries. They also said that no salary deductions would be made if we stayed in the canteen. About 15 workers from the department were waiting along with the supervisor. That waiting situation was turned into a problem, saying they were sitting outside without gate passes, and then were forced to write resignation letters. They were dismissed," said one worker from the factory.
On March 6, two dismissed workers were told by the HR department to resign voluntarily with final warnings and were also promised additional compensation, according to reports. On March 10, when they refused to resign, they were told again to attempt to form a union, said a worker who was well aware of the incident.
"On March 22, the factory dismissed a supervisor and another former union leader from the ironing department. They were told that unless they re-establish the union, they must resign, and if not, would be given a final warning. On payday, crowds formed and reported that the factory summoned overtime work and made various wage deductions. Workers contacted the labor office. The factory accused the two workers of doing that. They were intimidated with final warnings. The workers refused to sign, saying they had done nothing wrong. Eventually, not wanting further trouble, they accepted compensation from the factory and resigned," a worker familiar with the situation told Myanmar Labour News.
After the military coup, factory managers pressured workers not to form a union or re-register an existing one. As a result, the union was dissolved, and the leaders continued working at the same factory, according to reports. A labor rights advocate stated that labor unions are independent organizations.
"Forming labor unions does not require anyone’s persuasion. It should be solely based on the workers’ will," he said.
Workers also said that three male members of the workplace coordinating committee (WCC) were representing the factory in monitoring workers, including taking photos when they went to the restroom or spoke during work hours, pressuring those who didn’t work overtime or violated leave policies, and issuing final warnings. Additionally, it is reported that the factory does not get prior consent from the workers in cases of overtime, and leave is also being denied.
Dishang Fashion (Myanmar) Co., Ltd is located in Min Gyi Maha Min Khaung Road, Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon, and is manufacturing ONLY brand blouses and shirts.
