The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has welcomed the report of Commission of Inquiry of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which demanded to end to repression of labour unions and forced labour in Myanmar.

The report of 14th ILO COI urged the Myanmar military authorities to immediately cease all forms of violence, torture and other inhumane treatment against trade unionists, and to end all forms of forced or compulsory labour.

ITUC Acting General Secretary Luc Triangle said in the statement on 10 October that the report could lead to Myanmar’s dictatorship being taken to the International Court of Justice.

“This report has a message for the military regime, the people of Myanmar and the global community. The vicious behaviour of the military is unacceptable, and the whole world must stand with the people and the unions of Myanmar to isolate the regime and restore freedom and democracy.”

The inquiry report has been sent to the Permanent Mission of Myanmar in Geneva, and Myanmar regime has three months to announce whether or not it accepts the recommendations, and if not, whether it proposes to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice.

The report urged the military regime to cease all forms of violence, torture and other inhumane treatment against trade union leaders and members, to release and withdraw all criminal charges against trade unionists detained in relation to the exercise of their civil liberties and legitimate trade union activities, and to fully restore the protection of basic civil liberties suspended since the coup.

The statement of the ITUC also said, “Freedom for unions, and freedom from forced labour are fundamental human rights and undermining those rights anywhere undermines them everywhere. This exposure of the Myanmar military is a condemnation of repressive authoritarianism around the world.”

It also suggested, “Global and national trade unions must continue to act in solidarity with the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar and its member organisations and workers, in jail, on the run and in exile. Their courage in resisting the regime demands our support and I am pleased that the ILO Commission of Inquiry has provided us with the evidence and the recommendations needed to restore social justice, freedom and democracy in Myanmar.”

Brussels-based ITUC was first established in 2006, and its membership numbers 207 million around the world as of 2018.