Disinvest from Myanmar13 July, 2022The situation for workers in Myanmar has drastically deteriorated since the military coup in February 2021. Most unions are banned, and many workers who were once protected by collective agreements have been fired and replaced by casual workers with no rights.
Framework for a responsible business disengagement from Myanmar22 February, 2023IndustriALL Global Union and a number of garment brands with operations in Myanmar have jointly developed a framework for a responsible exit from the country.
Myanmar unions condemn EU garment sector initiative18 April, 2023Trade unions in Myanmar condemn the EU-funded MADE in Myanmar project, which claims to support the garment manufacturing sector by replacing unions with employer-selected “workers’ representatives”.
Global unions meet representatives of Myanmar National Unity Government16 June, 2023On 14 June, IndustriALL Global Union, ITUC and BWI met with Myo Min, union minister for the Ministry of Human Rights for the National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar and vowed to continue to support the fight for a return of democracy in the country. The NUG is the democratically elected government that was overthrown in the military coup of February 2021.
Military breaks strike in Myanmar garment factory15 June, 2023Military crackdown on striking workers and subsequent arrests at a factory producing for Spanish fashion giant Zara yet again make it blatantly clear that freedom of association is impossible in Myanmar.
Myanmar military arson attack leaves garment workers homeless8 December, 2022The escalation of Myanmar junta’s military attacks in the Salingyi township has rendered scores of garment workers homeless. According to several news sources, the Myanmar junta torched houses in nine villages in the Salingyi township, Sagaing region, in early December. More than 40 houses of Industrial Workers' Federation of Myanmar members were burned down.
IndustriALL campaign pushes H&M withdrawl from Myanmar18 August, 2023On 16 August H&M, the world’s second biggest retailer, announced that it has decided to gradually stop sourcing from Myanmar, as reports of labour abuses in garment factories in the country increase.
Unions file complaint against Italian brands remaining in Myanmar17 July, 2023Italian NGO Italia-Birmana Insieme, who works with banned Myanmar trade union IWFM and CTUM, have filed a complaint with the OECD’s NCP in Italy against a number of garment brands, including Love Moschino and OVS, who still produce in Myanmar despite continuing violations of workers’ rights.
MADE in Myanmar Project - EU must stop supporting military junta’s rule11 July, 2023IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll Europe are reiterating their call for the EU to withdraw support for the MADE in Myanmar project, which effectively funds Myanmar’s military junta, as well for the withdrawal preferential tariffs under the Generalised System of Preferences. EU citizens and public funds should not be used to benefit the military junta, nor should they be associated with an EU-funded project where workers are threatened, dismissed or arrested without cause. Read the full statement.
IndustriALL urges companies to guarantee fundamental rights in Myanmar12 March, 2021The civil disobedience movement continues in Myanmar as the military refuses to respect democracy and hand back power. As the military’s use of violence towards the peaceful protestors is escalating, unions in Myanmar are reiterating the urgent need for economic sanctions.
