Riding out the storm: Organizational resilience of trade unions and civil society organizations following the military takeover in Myanmar

On 1 February 2021, the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) seized power, declared a state of emergency and detained all levels of the democratically elected civilian government. Soon afterwards, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population announced that 16 unregistered trade unions and civil society organizations were operating as "illegal labour organizations". Organizations that have been declared illegal are now unable to operate without fear of harassment and arrest.

The ILO conducted an assessment of the organization resilience of trade unions and civil society organizations in Myanmar to identify how international organizations can most effectively provide support for their continued operation. The study analyzes the impact of the military takeover on the work of trade unions and civil society organizations, the ongoing risks they face, the mitigation strategies they have developed, and their organizational needs during this time. In addition, the assessment provides a set of recommendations for the international community on how to expand the resilience of trade unions and civil society organization, guided by the voices of the organizations themselves.