By Hsu Latt Phyu - Oct 12, 2025
Workers at Jian Yi Garment Company Limited, located on Min Aya Road, Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone, Hlaingtharyar Township, Yangon Region, have sought assistance from the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) due to repeated labor rights violations. These include extreme production quotas, threats of termination after a single day of absence, and verbal abuse on the factory floor.
The factory employs over 100 workers and is owned by Chinese nationals. It produces clothing items such as shirts and trousers under brands like SODA and Zebra.
According to workers, each line includes 28 workers and each individual is pressured to produce 61 pieces per hour, totaling 1,708 pieces per day. For certain styles, this quota increases to 90 pieces per hour or up to 2,520 per day.
“The QC manager often scolds workers and even acts violently when angry” one worker stated.
Additionally, workers report that legal entitlements like sick and casual leave are being denied. If they take even one day off, they are docked 11,000 MMK in attendance and allowance bonuses, and 40,000 MMK from their basic wages.
“If we take a day off because we’re unwell, the next day they tell us not to come back anymore if we’re still sick,” one worker said.
Other grievances include poor hygiene conditions in restrooms and lack of access to clean drinking water.
Workers are calling for immediate resolution of these issues and are demanding the following:
- That the employer sets realistic and achievable production targets.
- That legally entitled leave, both sick and casual be granted without penalty.
- That the QC manager refrain from verbal abuse or physical aggression toward workers.
- That restrooms be cleaned and properly maintained with soap provided.
- That line managers stop shouting and verbally harassing workers on the factory floor.
