Myo Thein
Workers said that Myanto Industrial Co., Ltd–owned garment factory forced some workers to confess to stealing garments and then dismissed them from their jobs.
“HR staff, OS supervisors, and supervisors planned it together. They called workers into the office, forced them to admit they were thieves, and then fired them. Five workers were accused of theft. Those who refused to confess because they did not steal anything were given termination letters and dismissed anyway. They were also threatened and told to complain wherever they wanted,” workers said.
Between November and December, five workers were dismissed in this manner. Workers said that after these dismissals, management threatened complainants by saying they would circulate workers’ photos to publicly shame them and even have them arrested.
“When they threatened us like that, even workers who didn’t steal became too afraid to report anything. Before this, a large amount of money—millions of kyats—went missing from the factory safe, and some workers were detained and interrogated. Thinking about those cases makes everyone scared. HR doesn’t care at all. They keep telling workers that the boss will settle everything with money and that any office can be paid off,” workers said.
Workers also said the factory demands unfair production targets, and when targets are not met, supervisors verbally abuse workers and report them to HR, creating ongoing workplace oppression.
“When production targets aren’t met, OS supervisors and supervisors shout and curse. Then they report workers to HR. HR and OS supervisors work together to force workers to meet impossible targets. When workers can’t take it anymore and speak up, management holds grudges, looks for faults, transfers them to other positions, monitors their every move, and eventually accuses them of being thieves,” workers said.
Workers said they are required to pay social security contributions every month but do not receive social security benefits. Some workers said they still have not received social security cards even after several years.
An official from the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) said there are also cases of illegal child labor and wage exploitation.
“In the factory, some workers with more than two years of service still don’t have social security cards. They don’t receive medical leave either, and other types of leave are even harder to get. If leave is not granted and a worker is absent for one day, around 80,000 kyats is deducted from their wages. We also see wage exploitation of underage workers aged 14, 15, and 16 inside the workplace,” the IWFM official said.
Workers said more than 50 underage workers are employed as daily workers and made to do the same work as adults, but are paid only 6,800 kyats per day. Even when they are hired as monthly workers, they are paid just 7,800 kyats per day, showing clear discrimination and exploitation. Workers said they are constantly monitored while working, drinking water, or using the toilet, making the workplace feel like a prison.
“They constantly watch us and label workers as thieves. Even when there is no wrongdoing, they blacklist names and spread them around. This is a violation of workers’ rights. We believe workers are being targeted and retaliated against out of spite by the employer,” IWFM said.
Myanto Industrial Co., Ltd garment factory is Chinese-owned and located on Mya Khattar Road, Mya Sein Yaung Industrial Zone, Hlaingtharyar Township, Yangon. According to workers, the factory mainly produces garments for the Springfield, LC Waikiki, and Aeroguard brands.
