By Myo Thein - Sep 08, 2025
Although TMA garment factory operates under a piece-rate system, workers say there is no transparency in how much they are paid per piece. Supervisors reportedly determine the rate arbitrarily, and workers are not clearly informed of the pricing. They also face pressure to meet production targets and are subjected to verbal abuse.
“We don’t know how much we get paid for each stitch or type of work. In other factories, workers can immediately see the rate. If we knew how much each piece pays, we’d know how many we need to make and what we’d earn. But here, we don’t even know what’s included or what has been deducted when we receive our salaries,” a worker explained.
Despite being paid by the piece, workers are still pressured to meet high production quotas, and male supervisors reportedly shout at female workers if they fail. Workers also say they are required to do overtime even on weekends and public holidays without consent.
“They curse us rudely. If we don’t meet the quota, we have to work midnight and overnight shifts. We’re made to work even on Sundays and holidays. Labour office inspectors came once and said they were investigating, but things have only gotten worse. The yelling continues, and so does the overtime,” said a worker.
Factory working hours run from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM. Workers say they are required to be on-site by 7:25 AM, and they are denied their meal if they’re late due to ferry delays. Ferries are overcrowded and infrequent, and workers who complain are reportedly dismissed with insensitive comments.
“We’re made to work every day until 7 PM, and on Saturdays until 6 PM. We have to be at the factory gate by 7:25 AM. They don’t give us breakfast if the ferries are late. When we raise this, they say, ‘We’re working with many people, deal with it,’” another worker said.
Workers have now been doing 7 PM shifts for more than four months. Getting home late at night has become difficult, especially for female workers. They say they are not granted any of the legally mandated leave or health entitlements, and are forced to work continuous overtime, negatively affecting their health.
“There’s so much overtime. Some workers faint while working. But even then, the factory doesn’t take any responsibility. They tell us to resign if we faint too often. They deduct 11,000 kyats from our daily wage and 40,000 kyats from the attendance bonus if we miss a day,” said a worker.
The factory has no onsite clinic. CCTV cameras have reportedly been installed even inside the restrooms, which has caused female workers to feel unsafe. Many daily-wage workers work the same jobs as salaried workers but are paid only 6,800 kyats per day. There are no suggestion boxes for submitting grievances, and workers are told to submit resignation letters if they request a gate pass.
TMA Co., Ltd is a Chinese citizen-owned garment factory. It does not have a trade union or a WCC (Workplace Coordination Committee). Over 500 workers are currently employed there, manufacturing the Petit main brand.
