Myanmar: European trade unions call on EU to oppose forced conscription

On 10 February, the military junta of Myanmar announced that they will begin mandatory military conscription. The European Trade Union Congress (ETUC) and European trade union federations, including UNI Europa, completely oppose this shocking announcement. On behalf of workers and trade unions in Myanmar and their international trade union representation, they urged EU Member States “to agree on urgent EU action as soon as possible” in a letter sent on 1 March.  

The junta’s announcement further endangers the lives of workers and citizens in Myanmar who have already been living under the military junta’s reign of terror for over three years. Reports from the field are alarming. Already young workers living in hostels near the industrial zones, or in family houses in the big cities and in villages are in danger of being kidnapped or arrested by the military and the militias in all villages and towns. In total more than 13 million young people are at risk of being taken away by the SAC local authorities to be used as porters or on the frontline of the fighting against the democratic forces. 

With reports that the junta will use employee data to identify targeted individuals, men aged 18-35 years and women aged 18-27 years, urgent action is needed to stop employees’ data being used, for the whole process to be stopped and for democracy to be restored to Myanmar. 

The letter states that “the international response to date has been far from sufficient and that the military junta will continue its abuse of workers and citizens without fear of real repercussions. This desperate situation needs to end and we call on the EU to stop the military junta’s abuse of workers and citizens which amounts to forced labour.” 

Urgent EU action is needed 

The signatories – ETUC, UNI Europa, IndustriAll Europe, EPSU, EFBWW, EFJ, EFFAT and ETF –  “ask for all EU Member States to universally oppose this recent act by the military junta and to take urgent action with the aim of targeting the regime” by: 

• An immediate public reaction from the European Council and the EEAS opposing this announcement in the strongest of terms. 
• For the EU to impose as soon as possible further sanctions including as a priority sanctions on the banking and insurance sector, on jet fuel, on junta state and region  chief ministers, directors of business owned by senior junta members and their families and  directors of military controlled businesses which have not yet been included among the sanctioned persons list, and companies such as Shwe Byain Phyu Group of Companies that imports and distribute petroleum, including on behalf of MEHL and Myanma Five Star Line Company Limited a shipping company. 
• For the withdrawal of Myanmar’s trade preferences under the EU’s Everything But Arms System given the serious violations of human rights, as it was decided for Cambodia. 
• For EU brands and factories still operating in the country to not collude with the regime, to protect the identity of their employee and refrain from sharing information obtained through the SMART ID scheme. Furthermore, EU brands must insist that their suppliers do not impose overtime during the current situation to mitigate the risk of employees being kidnapped or forcibly taken by the military troops on their way home late at night with reports of these instances being reported on the ground. 

UNI Europa Regional Secretary, Oliver Roethig, commented: “EU Member States need to stand up for the people in Myanmar who have already been subjected to three horrendous years of abuse by the military junta. Forced conscription in Myanmar must end.” 

UNI Asia & Pacific Regional Secretary, Rajendra Acharya, said: “Young workers in Myanmar are in danger of being kidnapped or arrested by the military and the militias for forced conscription. This practice must end – and EU member states should use the levers they have with the military junta to make sure it does.”