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 these developments, marking a significant step in international action against the military regime.
The sanctions will encompass various measures targeting violations of fundamental democratic rights, including freedom of expression and assembly, forced labor practices, child soldier recruitment, use of human shields, and forced portering. The action plan includes cutting off jet fuel supplies to prevent aerial attacks, controlling arms trade, regulating financial flows, and imposing restrictions on related business operations. These comprehensive measures are designed to address the systematic violations of human rights and labor rights by the military council while minimizing impact on civilian populations.
Reports indicate that the military council is attempting to evade these sanctions through various deceptive practices, including submitting false reports and conducting factory visits where they misleadingly claim that sanctions would only harm workers and civilians. They have also established fake labor unions and created a false tripartite mechanism involving government, employers, and workers to create an illusion of compliance with international labor standards. Labor leaders analyze that the military council is particularly concerned about these sanctions as they would restrict their financial flows, which are crucial for maintaining their control over the country and sustaining their power. The military council’s desperate attempts to avoid Article 33 sanctions demonstrate the potential effectiveness of these measures in pressuring the regime.
