Myo Thein
Jan 31, 2026
Workers said that the ETERNAL FASHION Co., Ltd garment factory, which employs more than 3,000 workers, abruptly announced its closure on the morning of January 30. After some changes occurred at the factory, workers had demanded a wage increase on January 29.
“The owner changes frequently, and at the beginning of this year the owner changed again, so workers made nine demands including a wage increase. The next morning, the manager told all workers that the factory would be closed starting at 11 a.m. that day,” workers said.
Workers also said that before the demands were made, there had been discrimination in wage payments inside the workplace, forced transfers to other jobs, demotions, requiring workers to come to work on their own without providing ferry transportation, supervisors verbally abusing workers while demanding production targets, a male HR manager frequently saying, ‘If you can work, work; if you can’t, quit,’ avoiding transparent explanations about changes in ownership, and repeatedly forcing workers to sign warning letters.
“The manager announced that the factory is closed. Wages will have to be collected at the labor office in three days (February 3),” workers said.
Workers also said that there had previously been an incident in which a male workplace manager had to apologize after speaking rudely to workers before the closure announcement. They added that labor officers arrived to mediate between the employer and workers, and that security forces were also present.
“Officials from the Hlaingtharyar (West) labor office came. One military vehicle and one police vehicle also arrived,” workers said.
According to a statement released by the Shwepyitha Township Garment Trade Union, employer representatives and worker representatives signed an agreement in front of the township joint conciliation body to pay legally required entitlements for 1,475 factory workers including severance pay, service compensation, leave days and leave benefits, and January wages on February 3.
However, it was observed that the agreement does not specify that all legally entitled compensation for workers will be paid in a single lump sum.
The ETERNAL FASHION Co., Ltd garment factory is currently said to be Myanmar citizen-owned and is located in the Anawrahta Industrial Zone, Hlaingtharyar (West) Township, Yangon. The garments currently being produced at the factory are for the Sinsay brand.
