By Myo Thein - Aug 23, 2025
Workers from LAT WAR (3) COMPANY LIMITED garment factory report that they are working nearly seven days a week with only two days off per month, as told to the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM).
“There are four Sundays in a month, but they only give us two off. We have to do overtime on the remaining Sundays. They selectively call workers by lines for overwork, both evening and night shifts. Some workers are forced to work day and night continuously for four or five days due to urgent orders,” workers said.
They added that after calling labour offices and reporting the issue, authorities visited the factory but only held discussions inside the office with the management and left without any action.
“The officials come, go into the office, talk, and then leave. We saw the factory giving out shirts to them. After that, the overtime didn't stop but they increased it. We now work until 7:45 PM. Evening and night shifts are almost every day. Sundays are no exception — we still have to work,” they said.
Workers said they are not provided with resting spaces despite the long overtime hours, and they must arrange their own meals, which combined with extended working hours, is affecting their health.
“Our health are deteriorating due to continuous overtime. Some have to sleep in the factory’s tin-roof corridors and are developing respiratory issues,” workers said.
They are denied leave entitlements and face wage deductions despite falling ill from factory work, including daily wage and attendance bonus. The amount deducted is more than their daily wage.
“They don’t just cut but they deduct everything. They pressure us if we say we can’t work overtime. They deduct our attendance bonus too. Since our base pay is low, our income drops significantly if we lose the bonus. With the current tough times and rising commodity prices, we are forced to endure pressure and verbal abuse just to work,” said the workers.
LAT WAR (3) COMPANY LIMITED is a Chinese-owned garment factory employing over 2,000 workers. The brands currently being sewn at the factory include KAPALUA, REGATA, and MAVI CONIN’s.
