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 and restrictions against the military regime. The Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) officials have confirmed these developments and outlined the scope of the planned actions.
The sanctions and restrictions will target violations of fundamental democratic rights, including freedom of expression and assembly, forced labor practices, recruitment of child soldiers, use of civilians as human shields, and forced portering. The measures will also include cutting off jet fuel supplies to prevent aerial attacks, controlling arms trade, and restricting financial flows. These actions are specifically designed to impact the military council’s operations while minimizing harm to the civilian population. The comprehensive approach aims to address both direct human rights violations and the economic mechanisms that enable the military council to maintain its control.
The military council has been attempting to evade these sanctions through various means, including submitting false reports and conducting factory visits where they misleadingly claim that ILO sanctions would primarily harm civilians and workers rather than the military leadership. They have also established fake labor unions and staged artificial tripartite dialogues between the government, employers, and workers to create an illusion of compliance with international labor standards. These attempts to circumvent international pressure demonstrate the military council’s concern about the potential impact of Article 33 sanctions, particularly regarding their access to financial resources and ability to maintain control over the country’s economy.
