More than 100 workers at the Nay Shwe Win garment factory in Yangon’s Wataya Industrial Zone, located in Shwepyitha Township, were abruptly dismissed on Tuesday following an internal workplace protest.
The Shwe Pyi Thar Township Garment Union stated that 103 workers were laid off in direct retaliation for demonstrating inside the factory on May 10.
The catalyst for the protest
The May 10 protest was sparked by the prior dismissal of 19 colleagues just one day earlier. Workers, speaking to DVB on the condition of anonymity, revealed that those fired on May 9 included key union members and leaders.
Factory management officially cited a “shortage of raw materials and decline in apparel orders” as the reason for the initial terminations. However, labour advocates are heavily disputing that claim.
The Solidarity Trade Union of Myanmar (STUM) strongly condemned the targeted firing of union leaders, labeling the management’s actions as a deliberate campaign of “union busting” aimed at dismantling the Shwe Pyi Thar Township Garment Union, which was established in 2024.
Labor law and international rights
STUM further accused the regime’s Department of Labour of violating Myanmar’s own labor laws by allowing the dismissals to proceed unchecked. Multiple Myanmar labour organizations have highlighted that the workers’ actions are protected internationally.
Under International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 87, workers hold the fundamental right to freedom of association and the right to unionize. Myanmar has been a member of the ILO since its independence in 1948.
The labour dispute has potential implications for several major global fashion retailers. According to factory staff, the Nay Shwe Win facility manufactures clothing for multiple international brands, including:
- ONLY (Denmark)
- Terranova (Italy)
- Pimkie (France)
- LC Waikiki, along with four other unnamed international apparel brands.
