Myanmar’s forced labour situation is worsening

Garment workers are forced to work overtime without compensation and benefits, excessive production targets were given, wage arrears are common and minors were hired illegally. Degrading treatment like shouting and insulting remarks are normal as unions are absent; the army is brought in to quell protests if employers owe wages.

According to Myanmar Labour News, garment workers at Wonderful Apparel Co. were given a daily wage 10,000 Kyat (US$4.70) and were asked to work through the night. When refusing overtime work, 19 workers were immediately dismissed. Social security fees were deducted from the wages, but workers couldn't enjoy any medical benefits. When 500 workers at Charis Sculpture factory went on strike for decent wages and paid overtime, 13 workers were fired and two workers were assaulted outside the factory.

The Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM) has raised concerns about the forced overtime, saying that garment workers are given unreasonable targets then forced to work longer on the ground that the workers cannot perform within normal working hours. Often, factory officers scream at workers and refuse to arrange return transport for the workers refusing overtime. CTUM says that workers have lost their legal rights after the coup d'etat; wages will be deducted if they take leave, and workers will be fired if they take leave for three days.

The situation of garment workers in Myanmar meets the forced labour indicators of the International Labour Organization (ILO) - abuse of vulnerability, deception, physical violence, intimidation and threats, withholding of wages and excessive overtime. The ILO has suspended the military junta from participating in governing body meetings and ceased all technical assistance, and placed an item concerning measures under article 33 of the ILO Constitution to secure compliance by Myanmar with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on the agenda of the 113th session of the International Labour Conference in 2025.

In November last year, IndustriALL GlobaI Union filed complaints against three major garment brands - Next, New Yorker and LPP - at OECD's National Contact Points (NCPs). Despite overwhelming evidence of continuous violations of workers' rights under Myanmar's military junta, these brands continue to place orders in the country, profiting from the eradication of labour and human rights.

"Brands that stay in Myanmar are benefiting from an environment of fear, forced labour, and exploitation. There are widespread, comprehensive reports on the extensive violations of workers' rights and there is no freedom of association in the country. Human rights due diligence requires worker involvement and independent verification, which is impossible under the military rule,"

IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie said at the time.

In addition, the military junta has increased the surveillance of migrant workers and are making a profit out of their hard-earned money. Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG) issued a statement on 5 December 2024 to appeal to the Thai government not to support the oppression of Myanmar workers in Thailand. The NUG said the military junta had requested the Thai government to share the personal information and tax payment of Myanmar migrant workers with the junta, the remittance must be transmitted to banks designated by the junta with fixed exchange rates, which will double or triple the cost of remittance at the expenses of migrant workers.

The military junta continues to bomb townships and villages indiscriminately, causing heavy death tolls, enormous destruction and internal displacements. Since the approval of the conscription law, the army is actively searching and arresting young people to join the civil war. A directive was issued in November 2024 allowing the military to call back migrant workers for military service through employment agencies.

"For the sake of millions of Myanmar workers, including members of IndustriALL, living under the oppression of the military junta, we repeat our call to international brands to divest their business in Myanmar. Their businesses are built on the basis of forced labour and workers' blood in the country. Workers' rights must be defended and democracy restored in Myanmar,"

says Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary.