Trade Unions Under Military Rule in Myanmar Conference

By Jay Kerr

Ever since the military coup overthrew democracy in 2021, the people of Myanmar have been engaged in resistance against the brutal military regime. From the Myanmar Spring, where millions came onto the streets to protest the coup, led by garment workers and their trade unions; to the call-to-arms by the National Unity Government in exile to form a people’s army and fight for their country, Myanmar has been in a state of civil war and resistance for over three years. 

The trade unions in Myanmar put aside their differences after the coup to form the Myanmar Labour Alliance, a coalition to present a united front against the military junta. With knowledge of the importance that economic sanctions played in the early 2000s in forcing the military to open up society to democratic reforms in 2011, the Labour Alliance made the democratic decision to push for comprehensive economic sanctions once again. To that end they called on international fashion brands (one of the fastest growing industries in Myanmar) to end operations and leave the country, thereby stopping a source of tax revenue for the military, and presenting a strong message that there could be no business-as-usual in a military controlled Myanmar.  

It very quickly became apparent that the garment factory bosses would use the military coup to crack down on the hard-won rights that the trade unions had secured in the industry over the past decade. Within weeks of the coup the unions were reporting on a rise in forced labour, physical assaults against workers, as well as gender-based violence and harassment, all while wages were falling, and in some cases not being paid at all. It was very clear that it was impossible for fashion brands to implement their own codes of conduct in Myanmar and do the due diligence necessary to protect workers. 

In late January 2022, just before the one-year anniversary of the coup, No Sweat and Global Women’s Strike launched the Myanmar Military: Never in Fashion campaign in support of the Burmese trade unions calls for fashion brands to leave the country. We demanded they make a responsible exit and provide financial security for the workers that had made their clothes for so long that were now facing poverty and insecurity. A statement was signed by almost 200 trade unions and civil society groups from around the world. 

Many brands took notice, as the evidence was hard to argue with. When the Ethical Trading Initiative finally put out a report in  September, confirming what the Burmese unions had been saying for over a year, brands such as Primark and Marks & Spencer announced plans to exit the country. However, many big names such as Zara, Mango and H&M vowed to keep sourcing despite the worsening conditions. 

The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, working with the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) has now identified over 400 cases of labour and human rights abuses against garment workers since 2001 and continues to monitor the situation. Added to the list of abuses is forced conscription, as reports emerge that factory bosses are handing workers over to the military to become unwilling soldiers on the front lines in the civil war against the ethnic armies and the People’s Defence Force. 

Now, on Saturday 20th April, there an opportunity to find out more about what is happening in Myanmar and hear directly from the trade unions that are playing their part in non-violently resisting the military regime. 

Join us at Friends House in Euston, London for the one-day conference, Trade Unions Under Military Rule in Myanmar, which is supported by PCS and the Peace & Justice Project, where Jeremy Corbyn will speak alongside exiled Burmese trade union leader, Khaing Zar Aung and Burmese human rights activist, Dr Maung Zarni, on the latest situation in Myanmar. Then, in the evening head over to The 100 Club on Oxford Street where legendary political comedian Mark Thomas will headline a special fundraiser to support the Burmese unions in their struggle.

Gig tickets and conference registration can be found here.

Saturday 20th April: 

12pm, Trade Unions Under Military Rule in Myanmar Conference, Friends House.

7pm, Stand Up for Myanmar Comedy Night with Mark Thomas, The 100 Club.

Jay Kerr is an activist with No Sweat

Labour Hub – http://www.threads.net/@labour_hub