By Hsu Latt Phyu - Jul 02, 2025
Workers told the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) that EUROSTYLE (Myanmar) garment factory, which is owned by Chinese citizens, located in Shwe Pyi Thar Industrial Zone 4, Insein Township, Yangon, and operating with over 1,000 workers employs a large number of underage child workers under the age of 18, makes them work on par with adults, and pays them lower wages.
It is reported that there is no trade union in the workplace. The factory is manufacturing fashion brands such as Ensored, Couture, and Super Push.
“We are required to work at least 3 hours of overtime every day. Sometimes they say orders are urgent and make us work overnight. They take in 15- and 16-year-olds as ‘apprentices’ without any medical certification and make them work. They only got paid 6,800 kyat for daily wages and subsidy but have to work like adults. In the end, they get only around 300,000 kyat a month, which is not the same as the adults,” said a worker from the factory.
According to the 1951 Factories and Workshops Act, employing minors under 18 requires a certified medical fitness letter, and the employer must bear the cost.
In addition, a registered medical certificate is required to prove fitness for work for youth and adolescent workers. They must not be made to work equal hours or under the same conditions as adults, and they must not be employed in hazardous environments.
Workers said that although regular working hours at the factory start at 7:30 AM they must work five continuous hours before lunch, which causes delays in mealtime and leads to inconvenience.
“We are not even allowed to take our entitled leaves. We can’t take leave no matter we are sick or have an emergency and requests time off. They deduct the daily wage, subsidy, and attendance bonus — almost 40,000 kyat if we miss one day. It's a loss,” a worker said.
Workers at EUROSTYLE (Myanmar) have made the following demands in order to improve working conditions and resolve the violations:
- Employers must grant workers their entitled leave days.
- Employers must not employ 15- to 16-year-old youth workers as apprentices with only 6,800 kyat per day and make them work like adult workers.
- Employers must allow workers to take their lunch break at 12 PM.
- Employers must not force workers to do OT through the night.
