GENEVA (ILO News) - The International Labour Office (ILO) announced today that it has concluded an Understanding with the Government of Myanmar designed to provide, as previously requested by the International Labour Conference and the ILO Governing Body, a mechanism to enable victims of forced labour to seek redress.

The Understanding provides that alleged victims of forced labour in Myanmar will have full freedom to submit complaints to the ILO Liaison Officer in Yangon. The Liaison Officer will then make a confidential preliminary assessment as to whether a case involves forced labour, in order that such cases can be investigated by the Myanmar authorities and appropriate action taken against the perpetrators.

The Understanding incorporates guarantees that no retaliatory action will be taken against complainants. It also provides that the ILO Liaison Officer shall be accorded timely freedom to travel within Myanmar for the purpose of meeting complainants or other relevant persons.

The mechanism will be implemented on a trial basis over 12 months and may be extended by mutual agreement.