By Hsu Latt Phyu - Jul 03, 2025
Workers from LAT WAR (3) COMPANY LIMITED garment factory, located on Seikkantha Road, Industrial Zone 2, Hlaingthaya Township, Yangon, have reported to the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) that labour rights violations are not being addressed and that they are facing threats in the workplace.
Workers said they are made to work overtime even on weekly rest days and are not given proper breaks. Supervisors speak to them disrespectfully thus workers have demanded that workplace violations be resolved.
The factory employs around 2,000 workers and manufacture KAPALUA, REGATA, MAVI CONIN’s, and MORAJ brand garments.
It is said that there is no trade union in the workplace and that only a WCC (Workplace Coordination Committee) has been formed. “Working hours are from 8 AM to 6:30 PM, and we work 2 hours of OT. We’ve had to work until 7:30 PM since after Thingyan. They give us only a 15-minute snack break. We had to work until 8:30 PM on Saturdays. The whole factory is called to work every week, or sometimes they selectively call certain workers on Sundays. The assistant supervisors said in meetings that if we don’t work on Sundays, our attendance bonus will be cut,” a worker said.
Workers also said that they are being asked to meet production targets that exceed their capacity, and supervisors yell and scold them if they fail to meet it.
A worker said 7,500 kyat is deducted if we request a gate pass without working evening overtime. “For example, some are let go at 4:30 PM and some are selected to stay on Saturdays. But those who selected are not get paid overtime fees. Those who selected for Sunday overtime are also not get paid. They call us overtime until 7:45 PM and don’t provide ferry services depending on our usual route. Instead, they group us and send us all together by turn. We end up getting home around 9 or 9:30 PM,” they said.
“We can’t even rest on Saturdays and Sundays. They demand unfair production targets. Gate passes are not given. We complaint about the supervisors’ comments and the working conditions on the ferry, and the factory’s assistant manager calls in the whole factory and warns everyone not to speak about it again, saying serious action will be taken,” they added.
Workers said they want the workplace violations to be resolved.
Their demands include:
- To limit overtime hours from 8 AM to 7:45 PM, and to allow exemptions for those who face difficulties working overtime.
- To provide gate passes without difficulty and to stop deducting 7,500 kyat.
- To adjust production targets based on workers’ capacity.
- To expand and improve ferry transportation services.
To take action against assistant supervisors and supervisors who verbally abuse or disrespect workers, and to ensure such conduct does not continue.
