By Myo Thein - Aug 22, 2025
Workers from Shwe Myinn Washing Factory say that factory management is pressuring them to work overnight and night overtime without exception, according to the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM). It is also reported that the factory claimed to have already notified the Labour Department about the overtime requirements.
“They make the entire factory work until midnight every Saturday. They make us work past 10:00 PM and give us only a piece of raw bread. They make us work until 8:00 PM every night and say it’s already been informed to the Labour Office. We don’t get the next day off even after working until 4:00 AM. We just have to keep working,” workers said.
Workers also said they are threatened with deductions in their attendance bonus if they don’t come to work the following day after doing overtime. After a full 8-hour day shift, we are told we must be available for night overtime in the following days in order to be allowed through the gate.
“Workers have to dry the washed garments all night long in the drying section. The workload and the number of workers are not balanced anymore. They’re not hiring new workers and instead rotating the existing workers through every department. There’s no clinic or nurse at all if we get injured at work,” said the workers.
Although labor officials have come to inspect, workers say nothing has changed in the workplace and that conditions have actually worsened because it’s said that the inspectors are affiliated with the factory.
Workers also report that children and youth aged 14 and 15 are being employed without medical clearance.
“They hired them without medical certificates. These young workers are treated the same as adult workers. They’re paid only 6,800 kyats in daily wages during their probation period. Even after three months, they’re not made permanent but still kept on as probationary staff,” workers said.
Shwe Myinn Co., Ltd Washing Factory is located on Nawaday Min Gyi Road, in the Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Yangon. The factory is owned by a Chinese national. With over 100 workers, the factory washes garments under brands including Pageone and Wax Jean.
