Myo Thein
Jan 11, 2026
Workers who are currently demanding wage increases said that the owner of SM Myanmar Garment claimed that officials from the Department of Labour Relations had instructed the military council to arrest them.
“The factory owner, Ms. Gu Changyu, and the HR manager, Daw Kyi Kyi Han Toe, came to speak directly to the workers. They said that the Department of Labour Relations had contacted the military council and ordered our arrest. They came and threatened us,” a worker said.
Workers said that after those leading the demands informed the Hlaing Tharyar (West) Township Department of Labour Relations by phone about the current situation and difficulties they were facing, the factory owner and HR manager came and made these statements.
According to the Confederation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM), workers at the SM Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd. factory began raising four demands, including a wage increase, on January 6.
“We are peacefully demanding their legal rights because their livelihoods are extremely difficult. Authorities can come and see the current situation themselves whether arrests are necessary or not,” a worker said.
Workers said that current commodity prices and hostel rents have risen excessively, making it impossible to make ends meet with existing wages. They also said that the factory discriminates by paying the highest skill allowances to only a small number of workers.
“It’s completely insufficient with the wages the factory is currently paying. Even daily wages are not the same. On the sewing lines, Grade A+ daily wages are 11,000 kyats, but only four workers per line receive that. The rest of the workers receive less depending on their grade — 10,500 or 10,000 kyats. The lowest is only 8,800 kyats. Workers from other departments also receive just 8,800 kyats,” a worker said.
Due to these conditions, workers said they are demanding equal daily wages of 12,000 kyats, overtime pay of 2,000 kyats per hour, attendance bonuses of 50,000 kyats, and double daily wages for overtime work on public holidays and Sundays, in accordance with the law.
The SM Myanmar Garment Co., Ltd.–owned factory is located on Min Ayar Road, Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone, Hlaingtharyar Township, Yangon. It is owned by Chinese citizen, employs around 450 workers, and manufacture brands such as Sinsay and AMISU.
