By Yoon Sat - Apr 23, 2025

It has been reported that trade union workers from Golden Colour Fashion garment factory in Industrial Zone (3), Insein Township, Yangon, were arrested. According to those close to the situation, four workers were taken away by civilian clothes personnel along with an administrative officer.

"It was initially under Section 66(d). Now they have been granted bail tonight. The Golden Colour Fashion factory owner forced workers to sign a document stating that there was no wrongdoing. The arrests under Section 66(d) were related to that," said a person close to the workers.

On the evening of April 22, after the Thingyan holiday, around 3 PM, four trade union workers —Chairperson May Pyae Moe, Secretary Aye Myat Khaing, Organizing Officer Khine Zin Wai, and Aye Myananda — were arrested and taken to the Insein Ywama Police Station by civilian personnel along with the local administrative officer.

On December 20 of last year, a female worker was allegedly violently handled by the factory owner and dragged out from an office before being dismissed from her job. Attempts to resolve the dismissal at the relevant labour offices revealed that the employer could not present solid evidence, according to those close to the workers.

On April 8, the factory owner called for a meeting involving workers, supervisors, assistant supervisors, and other responsible staff, during which they were forced to sign a document stating that no wrongdoing had occurred. A second meeting was called as some supervisors and assistant supervisors refused to sign, and they were pressured to sign under the threat of losing future orders.

The document they were forced to sign stated that the female worker who was dismissed was causing many problems, leading to the termination; that the factory owner was a philanthropist who did not verbally or physically mistreat employees; and that no abusive group activities had been carried out. This was according to statements from the factory workers.