Federation of Trade Unions Myanmar (FTUM): May 15, 2012

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Tens of thousands of acres demarcated for Dawei Special Economic Zone in Thanintharyi Region

As per the Myanmar Special Economic Zone Law and Dawei
Special Economic Zone Law the Republic of Union of Myanmar
Government has made an announcement of about 50,535.0233
acres (204.5088212 square kilometer) of land are demarcated
for Dawei Special Economic Zone in Daweil District of
Thanintharyi Region.

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Low wages spark labor strikes in Myanmar

With lowest wages in the region, workers in factories

established with foreign investment in Myanmar go on strike

due to extremely low wages in 2012.

On 6 February, 1,863 workers from Taiyi Shoe Factory owned

by an entrepreneur from Taiwan came out on strike in protest

of the wage cut for Chinese New Year holidays, and demanded

a wage hike and other benefits.

more >>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thai Official Doubts DKBA Drug Allegations

14 May 2012

Col Therdsak Ngam-sanong, a spokesperson for Thailand’s Third Army,

told The Bangkok Post on the weekend that his force has no information

about Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) leader Maj-Gen Saw Lah Pwe’s

alleged involvement in the drug trade.

more >>>>>>>>>>>

Myanmar opens for business, India Inc treads cautiously

15-May-12

Myanmar is open for business, but not everyone is ready to dive

in just yet.Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country —

one that is rich in resources but remains deeply impoverished —

has grown over 100 times in the past few years. In 2010-11 alone,

it soared to $20 billion from a much smaller $300 million

UNHCR officials to meet Myanmar refugees today

15-May-12

The situation over the presence of about 2,500 asylum seekers from

Myanmar at the Sultan Garhi monument near Vasant Kunj remained

volatile on Monday. After about 30-40 persons were moved away

from in front of the 13^th century Sultan Garhi monument on Sunday,

no one was shifted on Monday.

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Burma’s exiled activists consider returning home

14-May-12

During decades of political repression in Burma, many activists fled abroad,

building lives in exile while working for democratic change. Despite Burma's

political reforms over the past year, many remain reluctant to move back.

Indian workshop looks at Burma’s ethnic policy

14-May-12

(Mizzima) – Northeast India has a strong interests in ethnic events

in Burma, and Burmese ethnic groups in India should try to influence

the India government’s “Look East” policy, Dr. Walter Fernandes,

the chairman of the North Eastern Social Research Centre (NESRC),

said last week at a conference in Delhi.

Trade Unions Co-ordination Meeting

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There was a coordination meeting of basic labour organizations, labour activists and legal experts at Myanmar Peace Center. Basic labour organization from different sectors such as industrial, agriculture, education and transport sector (altogether 31 unions Yangon Region, 6 unions from the Mandalay Region, 4 from the transport sector, 8 unions from the higher education) were involved in the meeting. It is coordination prior to a meeting to be hosted by the President, U Thein Sein with the workers and to come up specific points will be presented to the President. Issues on Labour related laws such as amendments of laws and implementing enforcement mechanism with punishment that will be preventive measure, issues on workplace disputes, working conditions and issues on migrant labour were discussed by the participants.

ILO- ACTRAV- ITC Training

FTUM and ILO ACTRAV-ITC Trade Union Training on Freedom of Association, Organization Strategies and Collective Bargaining Place; Golden Butterfly Hotel Date: 13-14, December, 2013 FTUM invited other non FTUM trade unions. Altogether 27 participants, 24 trade unions from different sector (IUF –Hotel union and agriculture, food, ITF- train and cargo handling, EI –university teachers, Industri All- township level labour organizations Household things, Garment, Plastic, Leather/Shoe, attended the training. Workers are introduced about how to bargain workers needs through collective bargaining system and to understand changing world of work and trade union’s important role. We, FTUM has been providing ILS through the ILO ACTRAV training to workers and trade unions since 2003.

I understand that the investors invest because they hope to profit from the ventures. Well, we agreed with that but we also hope to benefit from the investments ventures. Our country must benefit as much as those who have come in to invest that. So, please think deeply for us. I have been listening to many speakers in the forum. I was particularly struck by one comment, very simple comment that we have to look to the questions of corruption and inequality. I absolutely agreed with that. We have to try to eradicate corruption and inequality as we proceed to what greater investments. We do not want more investment to mean more possibilities of corruption. We do not want investment to mean greater inequality. We do not want corruption to mean greater privileges already privileged. We want investment to mean quite simply jobs as many jobs of possible. It is as simple as that. Job creation is extremely important in Burma and together with job creation must go training. The kind of training that will enable our unemployed young to take up jobs. Vocational Training, we need vocational training and non-formal education.

The World Economic Forum
May 30, June 1, 2012.

Bangkok, Thailand.

Changes in Myanmar – the Minister’s perspective

Myanmar's Union Minister at the Ministry of Labour, Aung Kyi, gives his thoughts on the way his country's reform process has moved so far, how the relationship with the ILO has evolved, and what the next steps might be. Our government sent the office one year ago. It has been undertaking a series of reforms such as National Reconciliation with all political parties, prevalence of peace with most of the armed ethnic groups, also for us, the multi-party democratic system and also we have enhancing the international co-operations, also holding the free and fair by-elections and so on.. So our intention, it may be called, we stretched on the continuation of these reformations to the remote areas to every villages, and every persons, ensuring that we would improve our health and education, as well as social issues according to our people-centre strategy adopted by our government last month. Key next step may be the improvement in socio-economy status of our country and the development of human resources. ILO's cooperation with our government could establish decent working conditions in Myanmar. That is improving, the working, and living conditions of our workers as well as the competitiveness. Our cooperation with ILO is very fine now. Much different from the past one or two decades when we neglected each other at that time but since 2002, we have more communication between ILO and Myanmar which developed to connection on 2007. After signing the supplementary understanding, and then when we are building those connections to become trust, the governing body chairman Ms.Juan Somovia, GB members, visit to our country. That is a feature that trusts because trust, so nowadays, the relations between ILO and Myanmar is prevailing everywhere. Everybody should recognize that we have already changed ourselves and I would like to ask any organization to see from the different perspectives, from the past. Thank you..

Video

Myanmar needs democracy-friendly development growth, says Aung San Suu Kyi Changes in Myanmar – the Minister’s perspective Changes in Myanmar – an amployers perspective Changes in Myanmar – a workers perspective Aung San Suu Kyi and the ILO The ILO’s role in Myanmar ILO’s Somavia wams of “vicious downward economic spiral” East Asia 2012 – A Conversation with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi East Asia 2012 – The Promise and Futurd of Myanmar East Asia 2012 – Press Conference with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Tens of thousands of acres demarcated for Dawei Special Economic Zone in Thanintharyi Region

Low wages spark labor strikes in Myanmar

Thai Official Doubts DKBA Drug Allegations

Myanmar opens for business, India Inc treads cautiously

UNHCR officials to meet Myanmar refugees today

Burma’s exiled activists consider returning home

Indian workshop looks at Burma’s ethnic policy

14-May-12