Federation of Trade Unions Myanmar (FTUM): Aug 23, 2012

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Ethnic political parties want news in their language

22-Aug-12

A group of six ethnic political parties from Burma – the Nationalities Brotherhood Forum,

released a statement to announce that they want newsletters and journals published

in ethnic languages as they cannot rely on the government to do so.

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Burmese gov't says religious discrimination not factor in violence

Wednesday, 22 August 2012 16:41 Mizzima News

The Burmese government said the unrest in Rakhine State was not related

to any kind of religious persecution or discrimination, in an article in the state-run

New Light of Myanmar on Wednesday.

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China Reacts to Burma’s Nascent Media Reform : Source

22-Aug-12

The end to pre-publication censorship in Burma has generally been welcomed

by Chinese journalists, but has also led China’s leading right-wing daily to publish

an ambiguous editorial stating that Naypyidaw should not serve as Beijing’s role model.

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Burmese banks need upgrade before foreign investment

Wednesday, 22 August 2012 15:50 Than Htike Oo

(Interview) – The Burmese Central Bank Deputy Governor Maung Maung Win

was interviewed in the bank’s Rangoon office on August 10. He discussed

the bank’s stance on liberalization of the financial markets, the opening

of foreign commercial banks, the exchange rate unification and interest rates, among

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Laos Upgrades Burma Border Security at Mekong

22-Aug-12

VIENTIANE, Laos—A new military road is to be built along the Mekong River

where it forms the Burma-Laos border in order to enhance security

in the tumultuous Golden Triangle region where pirates have been terrorizing trade.

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Burmese Commission heads to Rakhine State this week: report

Wednesday, 22 August 2012 15:32 Mizzima News

Zarganar, the well-known Burmese comedian who is a member of a commission

named to look into the causes of violence in Rakhine State, said on Tuesday

the group would spend two days there this week, according to a report

by DPA, the German news agency.

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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

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Thursday, August 23, 2012

Ethnic political parties want news in their language

Burmese gov't says religious discrimination not factor in violence

China Reacts to Burma’s Nascent Media Reform : Source

Burmese banks need upgrade before foreign investment

Laos Upgrades Burma Border Security at Mekong

Burmese Commission heads to Rakhine State this week: report