By Hsu Latt Phyu - Aug 08, 2025

Workers at TIANJIN FASHION MILESTONE CO., Ltd, a garment factory located on Seik Kan Thar Road, Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Hlaingtharyar Township, Yangon Region, are calling for action to resolve workplace violations that have been causing them harm.

Violations reported include being denied legal leave entitlements, being forced to work overtime on public holidays and major holidays, forcing young workers to work without ID and doctor approval, making them work the same hours as adult workers and do excessive overtime, pressuring workers to sign and work overtime if they refuse, and forcing workers to shout slogans in the workplace. Workers have filed a complaint to the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) due to these practices.

The factory is Chinese citizen-owned, employs over 1,200 workers, and manufacture branded garments such as Vero Moda, Lcw Vision, Lc Waikiki, and Xside.

Workers said the factory demands garment targets beyond what they can produce, and supervisors verbally abuse them if they fail to meet them.

“They don’t give gate pass when we feel unwell, so we have to keep working. If they let us go home even if we are very sick, they fire us we are a new worker. There is a WCC, but it has employer-appointed members, and we can’t raise any problems,” one worker said.

Workers also said supervisors speak harshly when demanding targets, constantly monitor them, ferry transport is inconvenient, and if any issue arises, they are forced to sign warning letters. After three warnings, they are dismissed.

Working hours are from 7:30 AM with a 1.5-hour lunch break until 7:00 PM, with continuous overtime and no rest breaks.

“Supervisors and managers treat with grudges to workers who don’t work overtime. We have to work overtime even if don’t want to and we can’t speak out. They force us to sign and work. On urgent order days, they even make us work overtime on major holidays and Sundays. They also make underage child workers do the same overtime as adult workers,” a worker said.

Workers said that only long-term workers get leave, while new workers are denied including casual leave and sick leave. Workers lose a total of 30,000 kyats from daily wage, subsidy, and attendance bonus combined if they miss a day although they apply for leave.

To create a better working environment, workers are calling for these workplace violations to be corrected:

1. The employer must give workers entitled casual leave and sick leave.
2. The employer must not make workers do overtime on Saturdays, Sundays, and major holidays.
3. The employer must not make young workers and child workers do unlawful overtime.
4. The employer must stop supervisors and managers from speaking harshly or treating with grudges against workers who don’t do overtime.
5. The employer must not have Chinese nationals directly supervise.
6. The employer must stop supervisors and leaders from shouting and scolding if targets are not met.