“There is no doubt that change is taking place in Burma. However, the elimination of all or even most sanctions right now would reward incomplete measures and eliminate important leverage necessary to see remaining reforms through ,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. “Sanctions should only be lifted, on an incremental basis, when the regime implements real reform including eradicating forced labour, allowing freedom of association and collective bargaining, ending other serious human rights violations, ensuring free and fair elections and negotiating peace with ethnic groups with which it is still in conflict.”
The ITUC mission, which visited Burma on February 12 to 16, met with the Labour Minister and other government officials, emerging trade unions and employer representatives and the new Human Rights Commission. It also held talks with the ILO representative tasked with helping to end the widespread use of forced labour, and visited democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Rangoon industrial zones have seen an upsurge in strikes as workers protest against salaries as low as US$ 60 per month and overtime of up to 80 hours per month. Health and safety conditions are very poor, and just 30 labour inspectors are expected to cover the entire country.
ITUC is also concerned about a potential “gold rush” of foreign investors seeking to exploit low-cost labour and abundant natural resources when investment sanctions are eventually lifted. This must be avoided. The international community must work now to ensure future investment fully respects domestic and international norms on transparency, labour and the environment, among others.
