YANGON (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) jointly with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, organized the ILO Centenary celebration event in Yangon, Myanmar on 21 October 2019. The event was attended by representatives of Government, Workers and Employers, Ambassadors, UN Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, ILO Network of Forced Labour Complaints Facilitators, media and other stakeholders.

Addressing the august gathering, Union Minister of Labour, Immigration and Population, H.E. U Thein Swe, congratulated the ILO on its 100th anniversary and thanked for its support to the country.  He said that, “ the tripartite organizations in Myanmar have signed the first ever Decent Work Country Programme in 2018, covering different areas of work, including elimination of forced labour and child labour, employment promotion, labour rights, social protection, social dialogue, pay equity and  inspection among others and  they are committed to its effective implementation".

Mr. Greg Vines, the ILO Deputy Director-General on his keynote speech, underscored the ongoing importance of the ILO’s mission, one hundred years since its establishment. He congratulated the tripartite members for their continued commitment to tripartite social dialogue and for tackling critical issues relating to forced labour, child labour and labour law reform. “The ILO’s mission is anchored on the belief that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace. As we celebrate our centenary, we strengthen our commitment to this mission with a declaration for the future of work that puts people at the heart of every economic, social and environmental policies”, he said.  He further shared that the ILO underpins human-centered vision to advancing social justice and promoting decent work for the future of work.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator/HC a.i, Mr. Andrew Kirkwood, through his speech informed to the audiences that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution welcoming the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work, last month. “Full and productive employment and decent work for all is one of the key elements of sustainable development, and should therefore be a priority objective of national policies and international cooperation”, he said.

The representatives from Confederation of Trade Union of Myanmar (CTUM), U Maung  Maung, President;  Myanmar Industries, Craft and Services Trade Union Federation (MICS-TUsF), U Thet Hnin Awg, General Secretary; Agriculture and Farmer Federation of Myanmar -Food Allied Workers, (AFFM-IUF), U Zar Ni Thwe, General Secretary and  Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), Daw Khine Khine Nwe, Joint General Secretary,  also delivered their speeches and univocally applauded  ILO’s support, its tripartite structure and requested for ILO’s continued support in the days ahead.  “The ILO is our organization too therefore, we congratulate ourselves on its 100 years anniversary,” said U Maung Muang, President, CTUM.

Mr Donglin Li, ILO Liaison Officer in Myanmar presented the key messages of ILO Declaration for the future of work to the participants highlighting human-centered approach and vision to advancing social justice and promoting sustainable growth and decent work for all.l.
 

The other centenary event activities included, a panel discussion by the ILO tripartite members,  screening of video clips on the ILO Centenary and Future of Work; a rousing set by Myanmar’s Univoice choir; a photo exhibition displaying ILO’s timeline footsteps in Myanmar and a prize distribution to the winners of an essay contest organized by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.

Furthermore, the participants enjoyed a traditional elephant dance (Kyaukse) performed by dancers donning, who put on ornately designed elephant costume and chanted songs wishing to bring good fortune to ILO, its tripartite constituents and guests.

For further information, please contact:

Ms Piyamal Pichaiwongse
Deputy Liaison Officer
ILO Liaison Office in Myanmar
No. 1 (A) Kanbae (Thitsar) Road
Yankin Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: +95 1 2336538.