Myanmar: trade unions continue defending workers despite repression16 March, 2026With support from IndustriALL and Australian union MEU, the Industrial Workers' Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) continued to defend workers' rights in 2025 despite extreme repression, documenting abuses, helping workers recover unpaid wages and strengthening global pressure on the military regime.
Myanmar workers and democratic unions face mounting pressure under military rule19 February, 2026Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar warns of worsening repression as global unions call for stronger international action under ILO Article 33.
NCP delays enable continued military-linked investment in Myanmar6 February, 2026As the OECD Forum on Responsible Business Conduct in Garment and Footwear convenes in Paris next week, Myanmar marks five years since the military seized power. For workers and trade unions, those five years have meant systemic abuses of the OECD Guidelines and the collapse of any meaningful due diligence.
Myanmar coup anniversary exposes sham elections and ongoing repression29 January, 2026Five years after the military seized power in Myanmar, workers continue to face repression, while sham elections, international complaints and unprecedented action at the ILO expose the junta’s failure to deliver rights or democracy.
Trade unions call on Belgium to review Sioen’s operations in Myanmar16 December, 2025IndustriALL Global Union, together with trade unions from Myanmar and Belgium, has asked the Belgian National Contact Point (NPC) to urgently examine the operations of Sioen Industries in Myanmar under the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct.
Investor webinar highlights mounting labour concerns at Next plc10 December, 2025A growing list of labour-related controversies at Next plc is drawing scrutiny from unions, workers and investors alike. Many of the concerns were highlighted during an investor webinar co-hosted by IndustriALL and ShareAction on 9 December, where speakers warned that the company’s practices are increasingly out of step with its workforce, several of its peers and even parts of its shareholder base.
IndustriALL renews call for brands to leave Myanmar4 September, 2025IndustriALL is repeating its call on several brands including Bestseller, Next and Hunkemöller, to cease operations in Myanmar and immediately begin negotiations with IndustriALL on a responsible exit from a country under military rule where labour and human rights have been eradicated.
How Next abandons its workers24 June, 2025Next is proving not to live up to its fundamental promises when it comes to workers’ rights. From refusing to sign a landmark agreement to improve wages in Cambodia, to abandoning Sri Lankan workers by text and continuing business in Myanmar despite documented risks of grave human rights abuses under the military junta, Next consistently puts profit over people. Even its UK retail staff are denied a living wage, dismissed as “not breadwinners” by the company’s CEO.
From Belarus to biohazards: unions demand action at ILC27 May, 2025The 187 member states of the International Labour Organization meet every year in June at the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland. This year’s ILC starts on 2 June and will address possible new international standards on the protection of workers against biological hazards in the working environment and decent work in the platform economy.
Belgian unions demand end to military uniform production in Myanmar27 March, 2025Trade unions in Belgium are calling on Sioen, who manufactures military uniforms, to immediately stop production in Myanmar, given the serious human and labour rights violations under the country’s military regime.
