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More evidence of forced labour imposed by the Burmese authorities has been revealed in a trade union report. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), in its fourth report since June, gives examples of forced labour in road construction, the building and maintenance of military camps, the carrying of army supplies and ammunition, and agricultural work.
In one case an army colonel ordered nearly 300 people from ten villages to work on the building of a paved road, for which a Thai company had the contract.
The reports are based on data supplied by the Federation of Trade Unions - Burma, an underground workers' group active inside Burma, and have been sent to the International Labour Organization.
Against this background ICFTU and the European Trade Union Confederation have accused the European Union of being 'seriously inadequate' in its common position on Burma. The two bodies, together representing more than 150 million workers, say the EU still has a long way to go in stopping multinational companies from maintaining business links with Burma. They complain that the EU list of companies with which European businesses are prohibited from having links omits some of the most important state-owned enterprises, including the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise and four banks.
One problem is that European companies are in effect told they can continue doing business with Burmese state-owned enterprises if withdrawal would mean a breach of contract. The two unions say another problem is that the EU has not clearly banned companies from entering into joint ventures. These ventures could be seen as new companies and would not be on the EU prohibited list. The unions point out that the Burmese junta could beat the ban just by forming a new company or even renaming one.
In its submission to the International Labour Organization ICFTU has urged the International Labour Organization to strengthen its measures against the Burmese military regime.
In one case an army colonel ordered nearly 300 people from ten villages to work on the building of a paved road, for which a Thai company had the contract.
The reports are based on data supplied by the Federation of Trade Unions - Burma, an underground workers' group active inside Burma, and have been sent to the International Labour Organization.
Against this background ICFTU and the European Trade Union Confederation have accused the European Union of being 'seriously inadequate' in its common position on Burma. The two bodies, together representing more than 150 million workers, say the EU still has a long way to go in stopping multinational companies from maintaining business links with Burma. They complain that the EU list of companies with which European businesses are prohibited from having links omits some of the most important state-owned enterprises, including the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise and four banks.
One problem is that European companies are in effect told they can continue doing business with Burmese state-owned enterprises if withdrawal would mean a breach of contract. The two unions say another problem is that the EU has not clearly banned companies from entering into joint ventures. These ventures could be seen as new companies and would not be on the EU prohibited list. The unions point out that the Burmese junta could beat the ban just by forming a new company or even renaming one.
In its submission to the International Labour Organization ICFTU has urged the International Labour Organization to strengthen its measures against the Burmese military regime.
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