By Ma Ma - Nov 15, 2024
Despite continuous reports of labor and human rights abuses under Myanmar's military rule, major fashion brands such as Next, New Yorker, and LPP continue to place orders in the country, turning a blind eye to these violations. IndustriALL Global Union, in collaboration with the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) and the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM), has lodged formal complaints with the National Contact Points (NCPs) of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The complaints allege that these brands have breached the Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct, which require companies to operate ethically and responsibly regarding human and labour 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,” said Atle Høie, IndustriALL’s General Secretary.
IndustriALL has been advocating for international brands to disinvest responsibly from Myanmar. In 2022, IndustriALL introduced the Framework Principles of a Brand’s Responsible Business Disengagement from Myanmar, urging brands to safely withdraw their operations. Brands like Primark, New Look, Inditex, H&M, Lidl, and Fast Retailing have adhered to this framework.
“We have been urging multinational companies to exit from Myanmar as their existence contributes to the severe violations of human rights and labour rights in the country. The brands pretend they comply with the OECD guidelines and human rights due diligence, which is impossible under a military dictatorship. Industrial zones are under martial law and the right to freedom of association is banned. The ILO's Commission of Inquiry investigated and confirmed the severe violations of freedom of association and forced labour in Myanmar, and yet companies continue their business and ignore international guidelines and ILO conventions,” said Khaing Zar Aung, IWFM President.
According to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, as of June 2024, 556 cases of labor and human rights violations were documented in 266 factories linked to international brands operating in Myanmar.
“There is significant evidence of systemic violations of workers’ rights and brands that remain in Myanmar cannot claim ignorance of the abuses. The largest global brands have already left the country – brands that stay prioritize profits over human and workers’ rights. We are considering filing further complaints regarding other brands that remain,” sajd Atle Høie.
After the military coup, domestic workers in Myanmar have faced forced labor, wage deductions, exploitations and the loss of legal rights and suppressed by the employers by using the military and police forces to exert pressure.
