abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Press Release

31 Jan 2025

New research shows high street fashion brands linked with labour rights abuses in Myanmar on fourth anniversary of military coup

As Myanmar marks the fourth anniversary of the military coup, new research shows that factories supplying major high street fashion brands including H&M, Frasers Group, BESTSELLER (and its brand Vero Moda) and Reserved are linked with allegations of serious labour rights abuses.

108 allegations of labour rights abuses linked to 80 international apparel brands were tracked over a four-month period in 2024 by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, a rate of almost one per day.

These abuses included child labour, harassment, intimidation, abuse, wage theft, unsafe working conditions and mandatory overtime.

The latest data brings the total number of abuse allegations tracked by BHRRC since the coup to 665 incidents, linked to 187 international brands. The latest data can be explored in full in our Myanmar Garment Worker Allegations Tracker.

LPP S.A. and its brands including Reserved topped the list with 21 allegations. This comes as the company (among other brands) is subject to an OECD complaint filed by banned trade unions in Myanmar and IndustriALL Global Union in relation to its continued sourcing from the country amidst evidence of labour rights abuses.

Our research on Myanmar’s apparel factories reveals:

All these abuses occur in the context of a uniquely pressurised environment relating to military control in Myanmar, with business-military collusion and worker surveillance in factories also found in 12 cases (11%).

In some cases, factories were accused of weaponising the threat of military intervention to suppress dissent and prevent workers from standing up for their rights. In one instance at He Me T garment factory, reports outline visits by the military requiring factories to provide the names of male workers to be added to conscription lists.

Natalie Swan, Labour Rights Programme Manager, said:

‘Four years on from the junta’s coup, we can see that human rights abuses continue to pervade Myanmar’s apparel sector. Combined with the threat of employers colluding with the military to keep workers quiet, this is a uniquely hostile environment in which to work.

‘Despite these threats to their livelihoods – and often their lives – workers continue to fight for their rights. But brands – and their home states – must do more to avoid being complicit in these abuses. We need to see stronger corporate commitments to heightened human rights due diligence, and where this is impossible, responsible exits from the country.

Regulation like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive is essential to drive this approach by business, by ensuring sustainable, competitive supply chains built on decent work and respect for workers, rather than business models built on abuse in Myanmar.’

One garment worker at the Kittenish Knitting Garment Factory* described the impact of often forced overtime and unsafe travel:

‘I had to work overtime continuously. I can’t refuse even [if] I am tired… if we are sick in the factory, we are not allowed to go back [home]. If it is late [at] 12 o'clock at night, we can't go home... [and] we have to sleep in the factory... We're running ourselves ragged.’

LPP S.A responded to BHRRC’s request for information, outlining the extent to which it is addressing allegations, while reporting that four of the factories where abuses were alleged are not in its supply chain.

Evidence also shows that human rights due diligence measures like audits are still failing to identify abuses, and BHRRC has also tracked cases of workers allegedly being coached or even intimidated and silenced ahead of labour inspections.

Brands continuing to source from the country must ensure that high risk abuses are addressed. This includes working with suppliers to ensure the provision of safe transportation to and from work, and maintaining fair purchasing practices that address the prolific allegations of unsafe working conditions, low wages and forced overtime as the norm for the women toiling in Myanmar’s apparel factories.

Notes to editors

* = As reported by Myanmar Labour News

For more information or to arrange an interview or briefing, please contact Stuart Fowkes: fowkes@business-humanrights.org | +44 7974 736802

Further reference: Falling out of Fashion: Garment worker abuse under military rule in Myanmar

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is an international NGO that tracks the human rights impacts of companies across the globe.

Myanmar garment worker allegation tracker: Through collaboration with partners and allies inside and outside Myanmar, BHRRC is monitoring the significant increase in labour and human rights abuses of garment workers across the country since the military takeover.

This press release includes a summary of the latest allegations, with links to individual cases. BHRRC is able to provide more examples of allegations, alongside the factories and international buyers they are linked to, upon further request.

Privacy information

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies. You can set your privacy choices below. Changes will take effect immediately.

For more information on our use of web storage, please refer to our Data Usage and Cookies Policy

Strictly necessary storage

ON
OFF

Necessary storage enables core site functionality. This site cannot function without it, so it can only be disabled by changing settings in your browser.

Analytics cookie

ON
OFF

When you access our website we use Google Analytics to collect information on your visit. Accepting this cookie will allow us to understand more details about your journey, and improve how we surface information. All analytics information is anonymous and we do not use it to identify you. Google provides a Google Analytics opt-out add on for all popular browsers.

Promotional cookies

ON
OFF

We share news and updates on business and human rights through third party platforms, including social media and search engines. These cookies help us to understand the performance of these promotions.

Your privacy choices for this site

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies to enhance your experience beyond necessary core functionality.