By Hsu Latt Phyu - Jun 19, 2025
Workers from YUN NANXIN JLAHAO Garment Co., Ltd., located in China’s Yin Jian Industrial Garden and employed more than 800 Myanmar workers say they are being overworked without receiving overtime pay, and that poor meals are leading to malnutrition and health problems.
The Chinese citizen-owned factory manufactures YOB YB YOB and balabala brand jackets. Workers say that excessive production targets far beyond their capacity are set, and , they are forced to work overtime without compensation if they fail to meet these targets during regular hours
“Employer held a meeting and warned workers not to take photos of brand logos or factory premises and promised better meals and only deduct life insurance, blanket and pillow fees for those planning to return to Myanmar due to past media coverage of labour violations. In reality, the production quota demanded is beyond what we can reasonably achieve, and we are forced to work excessively within the workplace. We have to do unpaid overtime if targets are not met. On top of that, the food provided lacks sufficient nutrition, and workers are questioning how they can sustain such conditions in the long term due to the lack of rest time, ,” said a worker from the factory floor.
Regarding the production quota, it was stated that on each sewing line—with 26 workers including supervisors and clerks—they are required to sew up to 250 jacket garments per hour, and they are made to continue with overtime until the target is fulfilled if the quota was not met in normal working hours.
It was also stated that workers are made to work on holidays with half-day overtime, but are not compensated for that labor. “We can’t take breaks as the sewing lines are in constant competition. We get scolded even if we rest briefly. The team leaders only focus on securing their own positions and pressure the workers. Food is inadequate, and nearly everyone is falling ill due to the lack of nutrition,” a worker explained.
Due to such working conditions, which have created numerous hardships, workers from NANXIN JLAHAO GARMENT Co.Ltd have reportedly requested assistance from the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM).
Their demands are:
- Employers must not impose unachievable production quotas on workers.
- Employers must not force workers to work unpaid overtime.
- Employers must not deny workers proper rest time and continue to make them work.
- Employers must ensure that team leaders do not pressure workers by focusing solely on their own status.
- Employers must ensure that toilets are kept clean and dormitories are maintained hygienically
