Federation of Trade Unions Myanmar (FTUM)

Thursday, December 22, 2011

A farmer’s story

21 December 2011

Saw Moo Wah lives in Naung Bo village. His village is one of 11 that are situated

along the Sittang River in Pegu Division in the southern central part of Burma.

The local economy is based around its natural resources and agriculture.

The major crop in Pegu Division is rice which uses about two thirds

of the available agricultural land.

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Thailand wins oil-drilling rights in Burma

(Mizzima) – Thailand has learned that its largest petroleum company has won bids

for two onshore petroleum blocks in Burma.

The PTT Exploration and Production Plc. (PTTEP) was told it won two bids out of
a total of 18 blocks offered to foreign oil companies, Thai Energy Minister Pica
Naripthanphan said on Wednesday, Reuter’s news agency reported.

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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Thailand seen buying more natural gas from Myanmar

20 December 2011

Dec 20 (Reuters) - Thailand is expected to buy at least 2 billion cubic feet per day

(cf/d) of natural gas from resource-rich Myanmar over the next 20 years to meet

rising energy demand, an energy ministry official said on Tuesday.

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Yingluck pushes Dawei, meets Suu Kyi

20 December 2011
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Two of Southeast Asia’s most prominent women leaders

met in Rangoon on Tuesday. Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra talked

with Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for more than 30 minutes

at the Thai ambassador’s residence.

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Land prices in far Rangoon soaring

20 December 2011
Rangoon (Mizzima) – Land prices on the outskirts of Rangoon and in some municipal

areas have increased many times over, according to real estate agents.

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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..

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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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Thursday, December 22, 2011

A farmer’s story

Thailand wins oil-drilling rights in Burma

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Thailand seen buying more natural gas from Myanmar

Yingluck pushes Dawei, meets Suu Kyi

Land prices in far Rangoon soaring