By Hsu Latt Phyu, Yoon Sat - Mar 26, 2025
All female workers were individually forced to strip and undergo physical inspection to check whether they were menstruating at a traditional medicine factory named “Sakyar Min” located in Mingaladon Township, Yangon Region. Workers are calling for strong action to be taken against those responsible.
“The factory doesn’t even provide trash bins in the bathrooms. When things like this happen, we have to wrap used sanitary products in plastic bags and take them home. One new girl didn’t know this and threw it in the factory trash bin. The cleaning staff found it, and the factory manager summoned everyone. When asked, the girl was too afraid to answer, so the manager and supervisor said they would check everyone. They made everyone strip their longyis and found three girls who were menstruating. They were forced to confess. They said they’d continue the checks the next day when the shift ended. One of the three girls didn’t show up today. That’s how the whole thing ended. But the rest of the girls who were forced to strip are very upset. We want action taken,” said someone close to the workers.
There are more than 40 female workers at the factory. All were forced to strip individually and undergo menstruation checks. Although the checker was a woman, the checks were conducted in an area with CCTV surveillance. Therefore, the workers are calling for accountability from those responsible.
“They speak harshly, so the workers are scared. The verbal abuse is bad. They get called out in front of everyone, feel ashamed, and quit if someone speaks up. They made us work almost every Sunday last month but didn’t pay double; they paid the normal rate for overtime. The working hours are supposed to be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but we have to work until almost 6 p.m. They demand impossible quotas,” it was reported.
The factory does not provide trash bins in the bathrooms. Women who are menstruating must wrap their used sanitary products in plastic bags and take them home. Management forced all the female workers to strip and conducted inspections when one worker mistakenly threw hers in the factory trash. Three menstruating women were found and coerced into confessing. They were verbally abused and intimidated.
Regarding this incident, the Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM) condemned the actions and stated they would continue efforts to ensure accountability.
“We completely condemn this incident. It’s something that should never happen. This kind of thing happened in a workplace full of women labourers, and it’s the worst kind of abuse. Employers have full responsibility to provide for the needs of workers. What happened here was inhumane. Employers think they can do whatever they want, abusing power, oppressing, bullying, threatening since the military coup. This is the worst. On March 8, international union sisters just launched a campaign calling for access to monthly sanitary products for all who need them. Now this incident happens. We can't accept it. We will take further action. We’ll send letters to the brands associated with this factory, consult with allies, and take the necessary steps,” said Daw Khine Thandar Moe, Head of the FGWM Women’s Committee.
The factory reportedly has no HR department. The factory is run solely by a female manager, and only a page admin handles sales. Overtime is often demanded even on public holidays without paying double wages. The regular working hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but workers are kept until nearly 6 p.m.
It is also reported that workers are regularly verbally abused and shouted at, do not receive full overtime pay, and are denied Thingyan holidays, among other labour rights violations.
The factory, which also runs a clinic, produces traditional medicines including Cervical Spondylosis drugs, energy boosters, and muscle relaxants.
