Federation of Trade Unions Myanmar (FTUM)

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Shan rebels warn govt over recent clashes

8 Jan 2013

Shan rebels, who clashed with government troops in eastern Burma over the weekend,

have warned the army to respect the terms of their ceasefire agreement

or risk derailing the peace process.

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Burmese migrants lose jobs after Thai wage hike

8 Jan 2013

Thousands of Burmese migrants face unemployment after new minimum wage
requirements imposed by the Thai government earlier this month forced several
factories and workshops to close down.

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The next ethnic peace talks could be in Thailand: UNFC

8 Jan 2013

The next step on the way to the long-awaited peace conference is to discuss
and reach an agreement on its framework and a meeting between
the two sides for the said purpose is most likely to take place in Thailand,
according to Nai Hong Sar, General Secretary of the 11 armed movement alliance,
United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC).

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New Karen leadership’s stars rest on peace process outcome

8 Jan 2013

That was the conclusion given to SHAN by a veteran Karen fighter,
who was re-elected to the 45 member Central Committee of the Karen National Union
(KNU) last December despite his long standing relationship
with the so-called “hardliners,” most of whom were voted out
by the 3 week congress held near the Thai-Burmese border.

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Rape Exposes Plight of Disabled

2013-01-08

The sexual abuse of a 12-year old Burmese girl highlights need for protection
of those with disabilities.

The rape of a 12-year-old disabled girl in Burma's commercial capital

has triggered calls for better laws to protect those with disability

as part of reforms pushed by President Thein Sein.

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Kachin Bases Pounded

2013-01-07

Burmese government forces strike at Kachin Independence Army positions
along the China border.

Burmese government forces are forging ahead with air and artillery strikes

on positions around the de facto headquarters of armed ethnic rebels

in northern Kachin state despite calls for a cease-fire, according

to RFA’s reporters at the scene of the fighting Monday.

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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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Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Shan rebels warn govt over recent clashes

Burmese migrants lose jobs after Thai wage hike

The next ethnic peace talks could be in Thailand: UNFC

8 Jan 2013

New Karen leadership’s stars rest on peace process outcome

8 Jan 2013

Rape Exposes Plight of Disabled

2013-01-08

Kachin Bases Pounded

2013-01-07