Yangon factory orders end to workers protest over wages

The GTIG Guohua Glory garment factory in Wataya Industrial Zone of Shwepyithar Township sent a notice to workers stating that the factory will cut the wages of protesting workers, who are demanding a wage increase and overtime pay, if they do not return to work. The factory agreed to a daily wage of 10,500 MMK ($2.30 USD) but the workers staged a protest demanding 13,000 MMK ($2.90 USD). 

“The factory’s representative visited us and forced the workers to return to work. Their wages will be cut in accordance with the law starting on May 24,” a Solidarity Trade Union of Myanmar (STUM) spokesperson told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Workers from at least five Yangon factories have demanded an increase in wages this month. 

The workers walked out of the GTIG Guohua Glory garment factory on May 23 to demand a daily wage increase of 2,500 MMK ($0.5 USD) and an overtime fee of 3,000 MMK ($0.6 USD), as well as extreme heat compensation fees of 60,000 MMK ($13.6 USD) per month. Over 1,000 workers at the factory manufacture ONLY, Bestsellers and United Colors of Benetton brand apparel.

National Unity Government closes schools amid airstrike fears

The National Unity Government (NUG) ordered all schools under its administration to temporarily close on Sunday until further notice as a precaution against regime airstrikes. This followed one that killed 24 civilians—22 of them children—at a school in Sagaing Region on May 12, and at least 13 more civilians in a village of Arakan State on May 13.

Kyaw Zaw, the NUG spokesperson, told DVB that although civilians were alerted about impending airstrikes, the lack of sufficient technical equipment has made the warning system ineffective at times. The NUG announced on Aug. 14 that it had established nearly 6,000 interim community-based schools in resistance-controlled areas since Feb. 1, 2021.

The NUG has documented that 3,043 civilians—441 of them under age 18—and 240 schools were destroyed by 2,679 regime airstrikes between Jan. 1, 2023 and May 12, 2025. At least 333 schools nationwide have been destroyed in the regime’s attacks since the 2021 military coup, according to DVB data.

Airstrike kills 10 at wedding in Bago Region

The People’s Defence Force (PDF) told DVB that at least 10 civilians were killed and over 20 were injured in an airstrike on a wedding reception in Kyungyi village of Kyaukkyi Township. Bago Region, on Sunday. Kyaukkyi is located 109 miles (175 km) northeast of the region’s capital Bago.

“The bride and children were among those killed. The youngest killed was four,” said a PDF spokesperson in Bago District. Another PDF member added that the village is under Karen National Union (KNU) control and that there was no fighting with regime forces nearby. 

The regime renewed its April ceasefire on May 6, extending it until the end of the month. DVB has documented 343 mass killings, which involved killing of five or more people, committed by the military, resulting in the deaths of 3,646 people since the 2021 coup. 

News by Region

BAGO—Thousands of residents from five villages have been forced to flee their homes after more than 700 homes were destroyed by airstrikes and arson in Sapakwal village of Taungoo Township since May 22. Taungoo is located 134 miles (216 km) north of the region’s capital Bago. 

“The military set fire to the village after their forces were defeated by the PDF,” one PDF member told DVB. The military raided the village, took civilians’ belongings, and set fire to the homes on May 23. Fighting between PDF and regime forces has been intensifying since May 25.

MANDALAY—A search is ongoing for a soldier who allegedly killed his senior officer and injured another military personnel at a private bank near Zaycho market in Mandalay’s Aungmyaythazan Township, on Sunday. The three were working as security guards for the bank.

“Three military personnel argued over money, and the soldier opened fire at his two seniors, then ran away. The sergeant died in the hospital,” a resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The market and bank were temporarily closed afterwards.

SAGAING—Mingin Township residents told DVB that five more civilians died from their wounds while receiving treatment at hospital after an airstrike on Minzu village Friday. The airstrike killed 11 civilians, including a newborn child, and injured 13 others on May 23. 

Mingin is located 117 miles (188 km) north of the region’s capital Monywa. Residents told DVB that the attack reportedly destroyed 22 homes. They added that the township lacks sufficient healthcare after the March 28 earthquake, in which Sagaing was the epicenter.

YANGON—A Buddhist monk has been defrocked and is under investigation for the alleged attempted rape and murder of his female disciple at a monastery in Hlegu Township on May 21, residents told DVB. The monk was accused of attacking the woman 15 times with a knife after she rejected his advances.

The monk reportedly fled the scene but was apprehended later. A source close to the police told DVB on the condition of anonymity that novices at the monastery and another disciple who first saw the body of the deceased were witnesses to the investigation. Hlegu is located 20 miles (32 km) north of the region’s capital Yangon. 

(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,430 MMK)