Fwd: ICFTU Online: Burmese junta's

[darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Note from David Arnott

Here is the link to the long-awaited database of foreign companies 
investing in Burma issued today by ICFTU.

This ICFTU OnLIne also has comments on the report of the ILO High-Level team.

The ILO Governing body today adopted the report and issued a statement. (I 
will post this later)

DA

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ICFTU Press
> > Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 3:40 PM
> > To:   EN ICFTU OnLine
> > Subject:      ICFTU Online: Burmese junta's business links revealed
> >
> > INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS (ICFTU)
> >
> > ICFTU OnLine...
> > 185/151101/TUR-MO
> >
> > Trade unions praise ILO report and reveal the Burma links of 250 companies
> >
> >
> > Brussels November 15, 2001 (ICFTU OnLine): "Despite the generals' alleged
> > willingness to tackle the forced labour problem, pressure should be
> > maintained and even intensified on Burma's military junta to permanently
> > abolish the practice", the International Confederation of Free Trade
> > Unions (ICFTU) said today. The comment came as the Brussels-based ICFTU
> > and its "Global Unions" partners released a list of 250 companies with
> > business links to Burma.
> >
> > The ICFTU said the move could help convince companies to pull out of
> > Burma, thereby pressuring the junta to comply with ILO standards which
> > treat forced labour and slavery as crimes of international law. The list
> > was published as the ILO's decision-making Governing Body concluded its
> > discussion of the report of a High-Level Team which toured the country
> > last September and early October to assess whether forced labour had been
> > eliminated, as the junta claims.
> >
> > The ICFTU points out, however, that nearly one year after the ILO's
> > historic decision calling for measures to be imposed against the junta,
> > the mission report fully vindicates the organisation's perception that
> > forced labour is still routinely resorted to by the military. It also says
> > the report clearly demonstrates the junta's attempts to disguise this
> > reality and hide it from the ILO investigators. It mentions as evidence
> > the fact that posters prohibiting forced labour had been put up on the eve
> > of the ILO team's visit to particular villages, that they were posted in
> > Burmese and English in areas inhabited by ethnic groups generally not
> > speaking either language, and that junta-issued "Orders" prohibiting the
> > practice and dating back as far as 1999 had still not been published by
> > the country's newspapers, radio or television.
> >
> > The ICFTU noted with interest the mission's recommendation that an
> > Ombudsman be appointed and/or that a permanent ILO presence be established
> > in the country, in order to monitor the forced labour situation and to
> > help the authorities to tackle the problem. It also said, however, that
> > the ILO should remain realistic about how much it could expect from
> > international monitoring, given the total absence of civil liberties in
> > the country, including freedom of association, freedom of expression and
> > movement.
> >
> > Global Unions, which includes the ICFTU, TUAC and the ten international
> > trade secretariats, started to compile its list of companies linked to
> > Burma last February. Over the last 8 months, it asked around 310 companies
> > to sever their business links with Burma - the database of companies was
> > based entirely on publicly available information. Over 60 companies
> > replied directly. Some denied involvement, others admitted their presence.
> > Some companies said their presence is beneficial to the people of Burma,
> > while others suggested opening a dialogue with unions about their Burma
> > links.
> >
> > Most multinational companies identified as having dealings with Burma are
> > based in OECD countries. The Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD
> > (TUAC) has urged the OECD to employ the OECD Guidelines for Multinational
> > Enterprises to encourage action in support of the ILO resolution on forced
> > labour in Burma. In addition, a number of TUAC affiliates have raised the
> > Burma involvement of companies based in their countries with the National
> > Contact Points established under the Guidelines.
> >
> > According to the trade unions, it is impossible to conduct any business
> > relationship in Burma without directly or indirectly supporting the
> > Burmese military dictatorship, which is responsible for the extensive use
> > of forced labour, as well as other serious human and trade union rights
> > violations.
> >
> > "Any international business involvement in Burma is an accommodation with
> > tyranny.  It supports a corrupt and repressive military regime that has
> > never been granted any legitimacy by the people of Burma", said Bill
> > Jordan, General Secretary of the ICFTU.
> >
> > Some of the 310 companies approached have been removed from the list after
> > providing evidence of their withdrawal from Burma. Others have been
> > removed due to a process of ongoing dialogue. The list of companies is on
> > the web and includes links to evidence, and correspondence where
> > available.
> >
> > The database, as well as background information on this initiative, can be
> > found on the web at: http://www.global-unions.org/burma
> >
> >
> > The ICFTU represents more than 156 millions workers in 221 affiliated
> > organisation in 148 countries and territories. ICFTU is also a member of
> > Global Unions: http://www.global-unions.org
> >
> > For more information, please contact the ICFTU Press Department on +32 2
> > 224 0232 or +32 476 62 10 18.
> >

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