By Min Ni Kyaw - Mar 20, 2025
Workers from JinKai Manufacturing (Myanmar) Co., Ltd., a garment factory, have reported that they are being forced to work overtime and are instructed to give misleading answers during inspections. Some of the over 700 factory workers were reportedly coached in advance on what to say, according to the workers.
“The employer knows ahead of time when the labour office officials are scheduled to visit. Then they call workers into the office and tell them exactly what to say. They make us say that we only work 2 hours of overtime per day. They told us that we could get fired if we don’t follow their instructions and speak truthfully,” said one female worker.
Although the factory officially mandates 2 hours of daily overtime, workers informed the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) that they are often forced to work up to 3 hours a day without the option to refuse. They added that they receive no prior notice for the overtime and are not granted any of the legally entitled types of leave.
“Social security contributions are deducted monthly, but we don’t get medical leave or any other leave. What’s worse is that we don’t even get the social security cards. On top of that, 7,800 is deducted as a penalty and MMK 30,000 from attendance bonuses if we miss a day, MMK. The losses are even more severe for daily wage workers,” the workers reported.
The factory also employs underage workers aged 14, 15, and 16 without proper medical clearance, assigning them the same duties as adult workers. Additionally, more than 60 daily wage workers were hired at MMK 1,000 per hour but were laid off without being made permanent employees even after completing the designated working period.
Most workers reportedly do not have an Employment Contract (EC), and inspections into labour rights violations at the factory have been described as lacking in thoroughness, leading to growing worker grievances.
JinKai Manufacturing (Myanmar) Co., Ltd., a Chinese national-owned garment factory, is located on Mahuyar Road in Thadukan Industrial Zone, Shwe Pyi Thar Township, Yangon. It is known to manufacture surplus warm clothes for brands such as LC Waikiki and macron.
