Myo Thein
Feb 09, 2026
Workers say that disciplinary actions at Dishang Fashion (Myanmar) garment factory are unfair and that complaints about workers’ grievances are not handled systematically.
“HR sides with people who are close to them. The payday for resigned workers is set as only the 10th of the month. When someone came on the 7th due to personal difficulties, they refused to pay. But they paid someone who came on the 17th. Once, when two workers fought, they did not take action according to the EC contract. They only made them sign for a second warning,” workers said.
The HR department plays a key role in maintaining factory discipline and is responsible for explaining factory rules to all staff and taking action without bias according to procedures when rules are violated.
Workers said that line leaders speak harshly and pressure them to meet garment targets. Even when complaints are submitted to HR, no action is taken. The suggestion box is monitored, so for security reasons workers feel they cannot file complaints. A worker also said that some department heads within the factory are violating rules and showing favoritism.
“In the packing department, a relative of the packing supervisor sells snacks inside the workplace. His wife, who also works there, watches the workers and reports to him over small matters. She reports workers for taking too long to use the toilet or drink water. If a worker denies it, his wife also steps in to argue. According to factory rules, workers are not allowed to apply thanaka, wear lipstick, or comb their hair inside the workplace. But nothing is said when his wife and related people do these things. HR and COC staff see and know all this, yet they do not stop them. Workers are being discriminated against among themselves,” workers said.
In the packing department, instead of giving instructions through the supervisor, a foreign national reportedly shouts orders directly, and interpreters exceed their authority in directing workers, creating further difficulties. Workers also said that COC staff monitor and pressure workers.
“There are three COC staff members. They watch the suggestion box through CCTV. When they see a worker submitting a complaint, they call that worker to the office and question them. Then they side against the worker and pressure them. After that, they monitor the worker even over minor matters like talking about work. They report back to the supervisor and tell them to pressure the worker,” said one worker who personally experienced this.
Workers also said that members of the WCC worker representative group receive special privileges and do not work during working hours.
“The WCC worker representatives do not work. They go to their own separate room to sleep and play games. If they submit expense vouchers, the factory supports their expenses,” workers said. Because of this, workers are afraid to report their difficulties to the WCC worker representatives.
In previous years, information reportedly leaked with evidence that the factory provided 300,000 kyats per month to three former WCC worker representatives.
HR and COC staff are responsible for continuously monitoring compliance with international labor standards and for resolving workers’ complaints and disputes together with the WCC committee, as well as explaining outcomes to workers when grievances arise.
Dishang Fashion Myanmar Co., Ltd. is listed under the MADE project and employs around 1,000 workers who are currently sewing garments under the Only brand, according to Myanmar Labour News. The factory is located in Min Gyi Maha Min Khaung Road, Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone, Hlaingtharyar Township, Yangon Region.
