The country’s once-booming garment industry is now mired in fear and exploitation, according to a new report by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRC). The study paints a grim picture of a sector where workers, mostly young women, are facing increasing abuse, intimidation, and unsafe working conditions under the shadow of military rule.

Since Myanmar’s military seized power in 2021, labour rights violations in garment factories have surged alarmingly. The BHRC report documented more than 600 allegations of abuse, including forced overtime, wage theft, harassment, and suppression of union activity. Many workers say they are too afraid to report violations, fearing retaliation from both factory management and military-linked authorities.

“The factory floor has become a place of fear,” the report said, noting that widespread political repression has stripped workers of their basic rights. Trade unions and labor organizations have been silenced, while those attempting to form or join unions face threats, arrests, or dismissal.

Myanmar’s garment industry, which produces clothing for some of the world’s biggest fashion brands, was once a key driver of export earnings. But after the coup, international pressure and instability have driven away investors and eroded labour standards. Factories that remain operational often demand excessive production targets and neglect safety protocols, leaving workers in increasingly dangerous conditions.

Labour experts and human rights groups have called on global brands to take greater responsibility for their supply chains. They warn that continuing to source from Myanmar without strict oversight risks fuelling exploitation and legitimising an industry built on fear.

“The international community and fashion buyers must act responsibly,” said one labour rights advocate. “Workers need protection, not punishment, for speaking out.”

As global debates over ethical sourcing grow louder, the plight of Myanmar’s garment workers serves as a stark reminder that behind every low-cost garment lies a human cost many can no longer afford to bear.

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