Workers and trade unions have faced relentless repression, making Myanmar one of the 10 worst countries in the world for workers. Since the coup, they have endured extremely harsh living and working conditions. They face escalating threats and oppression, with reports of forced labour highlighting their growing exploitation. Hundreds of union members and activists have been arrested nationwide. The junta has effectively banned most trade unions, stripping workers of their fundamental right to freedom of association.
The Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM), an affiliate of the ITUC, has been a key target of these attacks. Many members have suffered persecution, imprisonment, violence, and torture. The entire CTUM leadership is under arrest warrants, and their passports and citizenship have been revoked. CTUM’s head of communication, Khine Thinzar Aye, was tortured and sexually abused during a military interrogation.
To this day, 151 CTUM members remain imprisoned. Two are serving life sentences, and one has died in custody. Another fellow trade unionist was executed after receiving death sentence.

SOLIDARITY WITH MYANMAR
Despite these dire circumstances, the workers and people of Myanmar remain steadfast in their collective struggle for democracy and justice. Their courage inspires the global trade union movement, which stands in unwavering solidarity with their cause.
The international trade union movement, in solidarity with allied civil society organisations across the Asia-Pacific region, continues its efforts to:
- Hold Myanmar’s military junta accountable under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution for failing to implement the recommendations of the ILO Commission of Inquiry.
- Oppose and counter the junta’s planned illegal sham election.
- Advocate for an end to cooperation and technical support to the military junta by the ILO, as well as multilateral and regional organisations.

FREE THET HNIN AUNG
The military arrested Thet Hnin Aung, general secretary of the Myanmar Industry Crafts and Services Trade Union Federation (MICS-TUsF), in June 2021. He was sentenced to two years of hard labour and a fine. After his release on 26 June 2023, authorities immediately re-arrested him.
He was then abducted, tortured, and held incommunicado for five months for refusing to collaborate with the military. In November 2023, a court sentenced him to seven years of hard labour on terrorism charges—without legal representation.
In December 2024, he was beaten and confined to a ‘dog cell’ after revealing the conditions of his imprisonment during a visit by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

OUR DEMANDS TO GOVERNMENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS WORLDWIDE
We call on governments and stakeholders worldwide to take urgent action in support of democracy and workers’ rights in Myanmar by addressing the following demands:
- The immediate release of Thet Hnin Aung and all imprisoned trade unionists.
- The expansion of sanctions to include dual-use goods and financial flows to the military authorities.
- Recognition of the National Unity Government (NUG) as the legitimate authority.
- Support for humanitarian aid through trade unions and the NUG.
- Divestment from Myanmar due to the failure of enhanced due diligence by companies.
WHAT IS THE ILO DOING?
Timeline of ILO Measures on Myanmar:
- 2021. The 109th International Labour Conference (ILC) adopted a resolution on the restoration of democracy and civil liberties in Myanmar, rejecting the military junta’s claim to represent the country.
- 2022. The ILO established a Commission of Inquiry (COI), its highest-level investigative procedure, to examine Myanmar’s non-compliance with freedom of association and forced labour conventions.
- 2023. The COI found grave violations and urged the junta to immediately cease violence, end the use of forced labour, and release imprisoned trade unionists.
- 2024. The 352nd session of the ILO Governing Body concluded that the junta had made no progress and proceeded to discuss measures to enforce the ILC resolution and the COI’s recommendations.

HUMAN AND LABOUR RIGHTS NEWS AND UPDATES
- 30 January 2025. CTUM condemned the junta’s interventions and establishment of a fake trade union to undermine CTUM (statement).
- 3 January 2025. A new cybersecurity law took effect, banning the use of VPNs without prior government approval and licensing. The law imposes severe prison sentences for violations, enabling digital surveillance and restricting communication within the resistance movement.
- December 2024. UN experts called for a "course correction" by the international community to block the junta’s access to weapons, deny it legitimacy, and reject its planned election.
- September 2024. The junta announced plans to hold an election in 2025 and scheduled a nationwide census in October to collect household data.
- August 2024. More than 50,000 Myanmar migrant workers abroad were required to remit 25% of their salary to their family or their own bank account in Myanmar through designated official channels.
- 19 August 2024. The junta formed a central committee for public security and counterterrorism to arm and recruit men aged 35 to 65 into local militias.
- 31 July 2024. The state of emergency was extended for another six months.
- May–July 2024. The Ministry of Transport and Communications began blocking virtual private networks (VPNs) and the Signal messaging app.
- 11 April 2024. Khaingzar Aung, leader of the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) and president of the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar, received the Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights 2024.
- 10 February 2024. The People’s Military Conscription Law and Reserve Forces Law were reactivated, requiring compulsory military service for men aged 18 to 35, women aged 18 to 27, and veterans. This came amid military defeats by ethnic groups and anti-junta forces.