The International Labour Organization (ILO) has decided to take action against Myanmar’s military council under Article 33 during its 353rd Governing Body meeting, with the final vote for approval scheduled to take place at the conference on June 25, 2025. The meeting, held in Geneva, Switzerland from March 10 to 20, discussed matters related to Myanmar and established the framework for implementing sanctions. Officials from the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) have confirmed that the governing body has finalized the methods of enforcement.
The sanctions will target violations of freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and democratic rights of citizens, as well as acts of violence, forced labor, recruitment of child soldiers, use of human shields, forced portering, and all other human rights violations. The measures will include cutting off jet fuel supplies to prevent aerial attacks, blocking weapons-related transactions, and restricting financial flows. The comprehensive approach aims to address both the immediate humanitarian concerns and the systematic oppression carried out by the military council.
The military council has been attempting to evade these sanctions through various means, including submitting false reports, conducting factory visits to spread misinformation about how sanctions would only harm workers and civilians, establishing fake labor unions, and creating a facade of a tripartite system between government, employers, and workers. However, labor leaders assess that these sanctions will effectively target the military council’s financial resources, serving as an impactful punitive measure. The implementation of Article 33 represents one of the strongest actions available to the ILO and demonstrates the international community’s commitment to addressing the ongoing crisis in Myanmar through concrete economic measures.
