GENEVA (ILO News) - An ILO technical cooperation mission left Geneva today en route for Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) to examine steps taken by that country's Government on implementing the recommendations of a 1998 Commission of Inquiry, which found the use of forced labour to be "widespread and systematic".

The mission is made up of four officials from ILO headquarters and one from the regional office in Bangkok, led by Mr. Francis Maupain, Special Adviser to the ILO Director-General. It takes place against the backdrop of an extraordinary Resolution by the 88 ^th International Labour Conference in June to ensure that the Government of Myanmar complies with ILO Convention No. 29, on forced labour, which Myanmar has ratified, by adopting a concrete legislative, executive and administrative programme to eliminate forced labour.

Under the terms of the Resolution, a series of measures will take effect on 30 November, 2000 unless, before that date, the Governing Body of the ILO is satisfied that the Government has implemented the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry. Those recommendations were:

• that legislation, in particular the Village and Towns Acts, be brought into line with the terms of the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) which Myanmar has ratified;
• that no more forced or compulsory labour be imposed by the authorities, particularly by the military;
• that penalties which may be imposed for the exaction of forced labour be strictly enforced, with thorough investigation, prosecution and punishment of those found guilty.

The Governing Body, made up of 28 government representatives and 14 worker and 14 employer representatives, convenes its 279 ^th session in Geneva on 2-16 November and Myanmar is on the agenda.

In the event of Myanmar's non-compliance, the measures which could be implemented include:

• Keeping under review the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry's recommendations at future sessions of the Conference so long as Myanmar (Burma) has not been shown to have fulfilled its obligations;
• Recommending to the Organizations constituents - governments, employers and workers - that they review their relations with Myanmar (Burma), take appropriate measures to ensure that such relations do not perpetuate or extend the system of forced or compulsory labour in that country, and contribute as far as possible to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry;
• Inviting the Director-General of the ILO to inform international organizations working with the ILO to reconsider any cooperation they may be engaged in with Myanmar (Burma) and, if appropriate, to cease as soon as possible any activity that could have the effect of directly or indirectly abetting the practice of forced or compulsory labour;
• Inviting the Director-General to request the United Nations' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to place on the agenda of its July 2001 session an item concerning the failure of Myanmar (Burma) to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry and seeking the adoption of recommendations directed by ECOSOC or by the General Assembly, or by both, to governments and other specialized agencies to ensure that by their involvement they are not directly or indirectly abetting the practice of forced labour;
• Requesting the Director-General to submit to the Governing Body a periodic report on the outcome of measures directed to international organizations and the United Nations and to inform those entities of any developments in the implementation by Myanmar (Burma) of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry.