12 May 2025
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with the head of a township in Karen State, Myanmar.
Karen State was identified in the 1998 Commission of Inquiry report as the region where forced labour was most severely practiced. According to the report, people were forced, regardless of their own will, to carry out gruelling work, such as constructing military camps and carrying loads to combat zones, without receiving any reward or benefit.
At the upcoming 133rd International Labour Conference that will be held from 2–13 June 2025 in Geneva, a resolution is expected to be adopted to invoke Article 33 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Constitution against the Myanmar military authorities. Article 33 allows the ILO to take “such action as it may deem wise and expedient” against member states that fail to implement the recommendations of a Commission of Inquiry. The draft resolution calls upon ILO constituents to:
“review, in the light of the conclusions of the Commission of Inquiry, the relations they may have with Myanmar military authorities and take appropriate measures to ensure that such relations in no way enable, facilitate or prolong the violations of workers’ rights in respect of freedom of association and forced labour.”
However, some governments of ILO member states, as well as some employers’ organisations, question whether invoking Article 33 is the right approach. They argue that mobilising ILO’s technical cooperation to promote labour reforms may be more effective than a punitive approach.
If adopted, this resolution would mark only the third time in ILO history that Article 33 has been invoked. The first was in 2000 concerning forced labour in Myanmar, and the second was in 2023 regarding violations of freedom of association by the Belarusian government.
But what impact did the 2000 resolution have on the very township I visited?
That earlier resolution also recommended that governments, employers, and workers’ organisations to:
“review, in the light of the conclusions of the Commission of Inquiry, the relations that they may have with the member State concerned and take appropriate measures to ensure that the said Member cannot take advantage of such relations to perpetuate or extend the system of forced or compulsory labour.”
Previously, under the military regime, women were ordered to fetch drinking water daily from mountaintops for workers forcibly conscripted to build roads and bridges. This was extremely harsh labour, involving multiple trips each day over difficult terrain. But soon after the resolution was adopted, this order was rescinded. Soldiers reportedly took over such arduous task.
This township is blessed with beautiful mountain ranges separated by clear streams, and fields of corn and chili peppers spread across the plateau, carried by refreshing breezes. With support from a Japanese foundation, the land was rehabilitated into fertile soil, and chemical-free farming was introduced. “We were thinking of trying strawberries next,” said the township head. Solar power now ensures a stable electricity supply, and facilities such as mountain lodges and restaurants have been developed. Eco-tourism flourished – until the military coup of February 2021.
Compared to Yangon and other areas, the township has experienced relatively fewer attacks by the junta. However, occasional airstrikes remain, especially at night.
The resilience of the people in the township is powerful evidence of what international pressure can help achieve. “We were thinking of trying strawberries next” is not just a casual remark; it reflects a hopeful vision amid the shadow of ongoing violence and repression.
For this township – and many others across Myanmar – adopting the Article 33 resolution is more than a symbolic move. It is a concrete step toward creating the conditions needed for communities to rebuild their lives, restore livelihoods, and pursue development without fear.
Shoya Yoshida
General Secretary
ITUC-Asia Pacific
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