By Min Ni Kyaw - Mar 20, 2025
Date: 19 March 2025
1. The 353rd Session of the Governing Body (GB) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) was held in Geneva, Switzerland from 10 to 20 March 2025. The Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA) welcomes and supports the decision adopted at the 353rd Session of the Governing Body (GB.353/INS212(Rev.2)).
Daw Phyo Sandar Soe, the Deputy General Secretary of the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM), a member organization of the Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA), participated in the 353rd GB session as a representative of the Workers’ Group. Daw Khine Zar Aung, a Central Executive Committee member of CTUM, also attended the GB session as part of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) delegation, representing CTUM.
We would also like to express our special thanks to the National Unity Government (NUG)—particularly its Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Human Rights—which contributed to the tripartite mechanism of the NUG, as well as to the Myanmar Employers Federation (MEF), Myanmar Employer Organization (MEO), Overseas Irrawaddy Association (OIA), Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA), civil servants and labour leaders involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), revolutionary forces, strike committees, and all individuals who testified fearlessly against the military junta’s multiple forms of repression during discussions and submissions at the GB session by providing reports and evidence.
2. On 1 February 2021, the military junta unlawfully seized state power, violating democratic rights, human rights, and workers’ rights, including Convention No. 87 on freedom of association and Convention No. 29 on the elimination of forced labour. As a result, the junta has not been allowed to represent Myanmar since the 109th International Labour Conference in June 2021. The ILO has not recognized the military junta as the legitimate government of Myanmar and has also suspended all technical and financial assistance.
In June 2021, the ILO adopted Resolution II (ILC.109/Resolution II), calling for respect for Conventions No. 87 and 29 and the restoration of democracy.
The ILO decided to establish a Commission of Inquiry (COI) composed of legal experts to investigate the junta’s violations (GB.345/INS/5/2(Add.1)) at the 110th International Labour Conference in June 2022.
In 2023, the COI conducted interviews with victims from Myanmar and released a report detailing continued violations by the military junta, along with recommendations for reforms.
On 1 November 2024, the Governing Body (GB) decided to take action under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution due to the junta’s serious and persistent violations of Convention No. 87 on freedom of association and Convention No. 29 on forced labour.
On 19 March 2025, the GB further deliberated and adopted a decision under Article 33 on measures to be taken against the junta (GB.353/INS212(Rev.2)).
We extend our sincere thanks to the ILO, its Governing Body, the tripartite representatives of governments, employers, and workers, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the Council of Global Unions (CGU), and all those who contributed to making this decision possible.
3. We also express our heartfelt appreciation to the revolutionary forces, strike committees, protest columns, individuals, police defectors, local farmers, workers, and the public across various states and regions, who bravely participated in campaign movements and "People’s Campaign" calling for action under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution—despite facing brutal airstrikes and bombings by the junta’s air force. We also thank our partner organizations both domestic and international for their solidarity and support.
4. The Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA) will continue to intensify non-violent efforts and pressure through various peaceful means to bring down the military junta, which continues to violate workers’ rights and human rights, and to oppress, arrest, torture, and kill the public through unlawful means.
We call upon the people across Myanmar to continue working with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN agency with an enforcement mechanism, to take action against the military junta. The Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA) invites all to join and cooperate in this cause.
Therefore, we earnestly urge everyone to participate in efforts leading up to the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) to be held in June 2025—both to submit reports on the junta’s violations and to call for decisions to be made against the military junta during the ILO conference. We strongly believe that with collective action and unity among all forces, our democratic aspirations will certainly be realized.
Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA)
