By Mu Dra - Aug 13, 2025

Workers at Myanto Industrial Co., Ltd, located in Mya Seing Yaung Industrial Zone on Mya Khetter Road, Hlaingtharyar Township, Yangon Region, report that part of their wages is being deducted under the guise of general expenses. They also face excessive garment target demands on difficult-to-sew products and experience workplace pressure, including verbal abuse.

Myanto Industrial Co., Ltd is a Chinese citizen-owned garment factory employing over 600 workers and producing for brands like Springfield and LC Waikiki.

“Line bonuses that workers are supposed to get weekly—20,000 kyats per line—are being taken by supervisors. They say it's for snacks for other departments, but they use our money and act like they’re the ones buying it for others. Factory managers know this and agree with it. Clerks also withhold balances when salaries are paid out, and deductions are made for supposed medical fees,” said one worker.

Workers also said that unachievable production targets are set. In lines of over 40 workers, they are being told to sew up to 280 woolen garments per hour—an unrealistic goal due to the complexity and thickness of the fabric. When they can’t meet the targets, they are verbally abused by supervisors, line leaders, and clerks.

Previously, daily wage was 9,000 kyats, with 4,000 kyats for attendance bonus and 1,000 kyats for lunch per day. Overtime pay was 2,250 kyats. Daily wage increased to 10,000 kyats in August, but workers say they do not receive proper leave entitlements. Workers lose 10,000 kyats in daily wage and 40,000 kyats in attendance bonus if they miss a day, —a total deduction of 50,000 kyats.

“We don’t receive any benefits even though we pay monthly for social security. We still lose money when we’re sick and take leave. When audits happen, they make us say everything’s fine even when it isn’t,” a worker said.

Although employment agreements exist, workers said they are not given copies and are often made to sign warning letters instead of being treated according to proper contract terms.

Due to these workplace rights violations and harms, workers have made the following demands to improve conditions:

1. The employer must only demand production targets that workers can realistically meet.
2. The employer must allow workers to use their entitled leave days.
3. Supervisors, line leaders, and clerks must stop verbally abusing or shouting at workers when targets are not met.
4. The employer must not deduct or extort unofficial payments from workers.
5. All workers must be provided a copy of their EC employment contract.
6. The employer must not issue warning letters when workers cannot meet impractical targets.