Next plc’s operations in Myanmar represent a definitive collision between corporate ethical assertions and the raw economics of low-cost sourcing under a military dictatorship. Between 2016 and 2026, the company’s trajectory in the region shifted from aggressive market entry to a publicly declared "pause" in 2021, followed by a verified continuation of sourcing in 2024 and 2025. Data from the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) and IndustriALL Global Union confirms that Next plc maintained active supply chains in Myanmar long after the military coup, directly contradicting the optical narrative of withdrawal.
On February 1, 2021, the Tatmadaw military junta seized control of Myanmar. In the immediate aftermath, Next plc issued a statement on April 1, 2021, declaring a suspension of new production orders. CEO Simon Wolfson cited the instability and stated that Myanmar constituted less than 5% of total stock. This announcement served to distance the brand from the violent crackdown on garment workers in industrial zones like Hlaing Tharyar. The market interpreted this as an exit. It was not.
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