ILC114 - EU Statement - Committee on Application of Standards - Myanmar C.87/29
International Labour Conference
114th Session
Geneva, 6 June 2026
Committee on the Application of Standards
Myanmar
Freedom of Association and
Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87),
Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
Thank you, Chair.
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Republic of Moldova as well as the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.
The EU and its Member States are committed to the respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights, including labour rights. We promote universal ratification and effective implementation of fundamental ILO Conventions and support the ILO supervisory system in its crucial role of promoting and supervising the application of ratified standards.
Since our last discussion, the situation in Myanmar has continued to deteriorate as documented by the Committee of Experts’ observations. While, we have welcomed the transfer of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to a designated residence and the conditioned release of U Win Myint, these steps do not alter the overall picture: there has been no discernible progress towards the restoration of democratic governance or the re-establishment of conditions conducive to the effective exercise of fundamental rights and civil liberties. Armed conflict, insecurity and humanitarian needs have further intensified.
We welcome the release of a number of trade unionists and labour rights defenders during the reporting period. However, these steps fall short of demonstrating genuine engagement or credible progress towards full implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry.
We remain deeply concerned by ongoing violations of fundamental labour rights and basic civil liberties, including restrictions on freedom of association, interference in the activities of workers’ organisations, arbitrary arrest and detention, surveillance, torture and other ill-treatment, and reprisals against trade unionists and labour activists. We are particularly concerned by reports that women trade unionists have been subjected to especially violent forms of abuse. Reports of forced or compulsory labour imposed by the military regime, particularly in the context of conscription, remain particularly alarming.
As documented by the DG’s situation report, we remain concerned about the continued reports of widespread labour abuses. With regards to operationalisation of the monitoring mechanism, we would also welcome arrangements that ensure confidential and credible documentation of ongoing violations, including on arrests and detention and other reprisals, to enable the Office to get an objective overview of the evolving situation and support accountability and effective redress for victims.
We remain deeply alarmed by reports of the persistent and systematic imposition of forced labour and forced recruitment across Myanmar by the armed forces and multiple armed groups, including reports affecting Rohingya men and boys. We are further concerned that forced conscription, tighter travel controls and soaring recruitment fees expose workers to trafficking and forced labour across the migration cycle, thereby exacerbating protection risks in an already fragile context.
We urge the military authorities to take immediate, concrete and verifiable measures to put an end to all forms of forced labour and forced conscription; to ensure the protection of the victims of these practices; and to hold accountable all those responsible for these violations.
We reaffirm our commitment to the full implementation of the 2025 Article 33 resolution and underline the importance of continued follow-up by all ILO constituents. Any action or engagement must not enable, facilitate or prolong violations of human rights and must fully respect the principle of non-refoulement.
We welcome the Office’s continued efforts to support workers, employers and communities in Myanmar under very challenging conditions, in line with the Article 33 resolution and the UN Country Team programmatic engagement guidelines. We also welcome continued work towards the operationalisation of a confidential and credible monitoring mechanism to document violations of fundamental rights, in particular freedom of association and forced labour, with adequate resources and in close consultation with social partners.
We urge the Myanmar military authorities to take concrete and immediate measures to fully implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry and bring law and practice into conformity with Conventions Nos 87 and 29. We call on the military authorities to cooperate fully with the ILO supervisory bodies and the Office, including by providing the necessary guarantees and assurances for an ILO mission to visit the country and carry out its mandate in full independence and security without retaliation against any person in contact with it.
The EU and its Member States will continue to follow the situation closely and remain committed to supporting the effective application of fundamental labour standards, as well as the people of Myanmar in their pursuit of dignity, justice and decent work.
Thank you, Chair.
- ^ Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.