Nay Pyi Taw (ILO News) - ILO Deputy Director-General Mr Greg Vines met with General Mya Tun Oo, Chief of General Staff of the Myanmar Army, Navy and Air Force (Tatmadaw), and other senior military officers to discuss cooperation to end forced labour in Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw on 20 September 2018.
The Deputy Director-General recalled the ILO’s engagement with the Myanmar Government and military on the elimination of the use of forced labour over more than 20 years, noting the progress which had been made. But he stressed that forced labour remains a deeply entrenched problem, particularly in conflict-affected areas and the ILO continues to receive new complaints each month. For this reason, it had been agreed that ongoing work for the elimination of forced labour should remain a core component of the new Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP).
Mr Vines referred to the UN Fact-Finding Mission report on Myanmar released this week which had raised many serious concerns, including forced labour, and expressed hope that the Myanmar Government and Tatmadaw would cooperate with the United Nations in addressing these concerns.
Mr Vines was visiting Myanmar to sign the first ever DWCP for Myanmar, developed with the Government, workers and employers representatives on 21 September 2018. While in Nay Pyi Taw, the Deputy Director-General also met with the Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population, HE U Thein Swe to discuss cooperation under the new DWCP. He also met with members of Parliamentary Committees for labour affairs to discuss the ongoing labour law reforms.
For more information:
Marco Minocri, Communications Consultant, ILO Liaison Office in Myanmar [email protected]
