Myanmar Labor Alliance
The Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA) was formed in 2019. The MLA brings together labour federations, trade union federations and labour organizations fighting for the rights and interests of Myanmar's workers, including the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM), the Myanmar Railway Workers' Union Federation (MRWUF), the Mining Workers' Federation of Myanmar (MWFM), the Food Workers' Federation of Myanmar (FWFM), the Energy Union Federation of Myanmar (EUFM), the Building and Wood Workers' Federation of Myanmar (BWFM), the Agriculture and Farmers' Federation of Myanmar (AFFM) and the Industrial Workers' Federation of Myanmar (IWFM).
The MLA was fighting together for workers' rights and interests even before the military coup. After the military seized power on February 1, 2021, the MLA joined the people in the Spring Revolution to end all dictatorship, including military dictatorship, and to bring about a federal democratic union, building a federal union with full basic rights and human rights.
The MLA is fighting to abolish the 2008 Constitution, end military dictatorship and establish federal democracy: through strikes of all kinds as a member group of the General Strike Coordination Body (GSCB); by working with international trade unions and labour organizations for comprehensive economic sanctions on the fascist military dictatorship; and by taking part in the NUCC as trade union representatives, working together for a united common political policy, common political goals and a political roadmap. The MLA is working, with international organizations, to ensure that employers and their associates who have exploited the terrorist junta's coup to repress workers in the workplace for various reasons face no impunity, during or after the revolution, and are held accountable for their offences, and to stop all violations of fundamental workplace standards. Because the MLA has been able to report labour rights violations in Myanmar, the International Labour Organization (ILO) is applying pressure on the terrorist junta, and the MLA is urging international labour federations and governments to apply further pressure. It is also implementing Comprehensive Economic Sanctions (CES) together with about 200 organizations to completely stop money flowing to the terrorist junta.
On May 1, 2023, the MLA declared, as a May Day pledge, that it would continue to fight with the people in the May Day spirit to uproot all dictatorship, with demands for (a) signing the remaining provisions on fundamental workplace standards and rights, including ILO Convention 98; (b) setting a minimum wage in line with the law; and (c) delivering transitional justice in the transitional period for workers, private-sector CDM staff and civil servant CDM staff harmed during the revolution. Led by its members, the Myanmar Labour Alliance has actively taken part in revolutionary activities, including objecting to and condemning Russian and Chinese interference in Myanmar politics; online campaigns for the ILO to accept NUG representatives and not admit the military council; raising the difficulties workers face; hanging anti-dictatorship banners on May Day; opposing the "sham election" the terrorist military council is preparing; issuing positions on trade unions, labour activists and organizations cooperating directly or indirectly with the terrorist junta; joining the Credential Challenge Campaign; and leading strike movements.
The MLA is a member organization of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC).
References
1. https://www.facebook.com/myanmarlaboralliance
2. https://www.myanmarlabournews.com/news/286
3. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0RYHAncFpzL9R1LV8BJ6aPnuXfathfRCQjQ32s1uhnT3grCoZayHttN55JFeoC7oNl&id=100003402785301&mibextid=swFtfn
Related updates
Comprehensive Sanctions Drafted Against Military Group Under ILO - Article 33
The Confederation of Trade Unions, Myanmar (CTUM) announced that the General Director of the ILO has been instructed by the Board of directors to prepare a draft action plan for non-compliance with the ILO Constitution Article 33 on the right to freedom of association and forced labor in accordance with the International Labor Organization (ILO) criteria 87 and 29.
Myanmar Workers' Representative Re-elected to the ILO Governing Body
Daw Phyo Sandar Soe, a central executive member of the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) and representative of the Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA), was re-elected as a member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) at the International Labour Conference (ILC).
Second People's Assembly Approves Three Resolutions on Pa Thone Lone, Military Conscription and the 1982 Citizenship Law
The NUCC announced that the second People's Assembly, led by the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) and held over five days from April 4 to 9, adopted three resolutions concerning local administration and the rule of law, the terrorist military's illegitimate People's Military Service Law, and the Myanmar Citizenship Law (1982).
Myanmar Labour Alliance: NUG's China Policy Does Not Represent Us
On January 21, the Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA) stated that "The National Unity Government's Position on China", issued by the NUG on January 1, does not represent its own policy and views.
"Our Ambassador - Our Voice" Campaign
Pro-democracy activists launched "Our Ambassador, Our Voice, Our Representative" Campaign to call on the international community to continue the credential of NUG's UN Representative U Kyaw Moe Tun in the United Nations while rejecting the junta-appointed candidate.