Forced labour complaints rise on public awareness, says ILO

By Ye Linn Htut
June 6 - 12, 2011

IMPROVED public awareness about the law on forced labour has led to “a large increase” in formal complaints, including those involving underage recruitment into the military, the International Labour Organisation’s liaison officer in Yangon, Mr Steve Marshall, said last month.

Since the start of 2010 the ILO has received 468 complaints – almost one a day – up from just 243 complaints in the preceding three years. Of the 711 complaints received to May 10, 382 were related to underage recruitment into the military.

“So far 157 persons recruited underage [have been] released back to their families and the rest are still in process,” Mr Marshall said.

While the organisation has conducted awareness-raising activities since it opened an office in Yangon in early 2007, Mr Marshall said a major factor in the increase was receiving permission in mid-2010 to distribute a joint Ministry of Labour-ILO Myanmar-language brochure that “explains in simple language the law and how to lodge a complaint”.

He said seminars conducted in cooperation with the government “throughout the country”, articles on forced labour published in domestic media and information workshops with NGOs and community groups had also had a significant impact.

“We do not believe that the increase in complaints reflects an increase in the use of forced labour or an increase in underage recruitment. We believe that [it] reflects an increase in the awareness and understanding of the population as to their rights under the law and an increase in confidence to make a complaint,” he said.
The ILO operates in Myanmar on a restricted mandate and is limited to working in support of government policy for the elimination of forced labour.

When it receives a complaint, the organisation assesses the evidence provided and if necessary conducts further enquiries to ensure the complaint is both genuine and falls within the definition of forced labour.
“If the ILO is satisfied that there is a case to be answered, we document the evidence and submit it as a case to the Government Working Group for the Elimination of Forced Labour chaired by the deputy minister of labour,” Mr Marshall said.

“The working group reviews the submission and if satisfied, the government commission verifies the facts. If the facts are proven, decisions are taken to provide justice for the complainants.”

As part of its efforts to eliminate forced labour, the ILO concentrates on three areas: educating and training government officials, military personnel and the general public as to the law on forced labour and their rights and responsibilities under the law; receiving complaints under the complaints mechanism agreed with the government and seeking justice for the complainants; and advocating for the adoption of sound policies and responsible application of policies to support the elimination of forced labour.