CV/VV/NORMES/22.07.26, RG/lck/CABINET/23.07.26 Original: Permanent Mission – for transmission cc: CABINET, DDG, NORMES, LIBSYND, RO-AP, RO-EU, RO-AF, RO-AS, RO-LAC

TO ALL MEMBER STATES OF THE ILO

30 July 2026

Dear Minister,

I am writing to inform you that at its 356th Session (March 2026), the Governing Body discussed the follow-up to the resolution concerning the measures recommended by the Governing Body under article 33 of the ILO Constitution on the subject of Myanmar.

I wish to bring to your kind attention subparagraph (b)(ii) of its decision, by which the Governing Body “invited the Organization's constituents - governments, employers and workers - to continue taking steps to ensure an effective follow-up to the 2025 Conference resolution, including a review of their relations with the military authorities to ensure that they do not enable, facilitate or prolong, the violations of workers' rights in respect of freedom of association and forced labour, and respect for the principle of non-refoulement”.

In order to enable me to prepare an updated report on the situation of Myanmar for the consideration of the Governing Body at its 358th Session (November 2026), I would appreciate receiving information on any measures taken or envisaged by your Government or other relevant developments in this respect no later than 21 September 2026 (please send your communication to [email protected] to ensure efficient processing).

I further wish to draw your attention to the conclusions of the Committee on the Application of Standards of the International Labour Conference (paras 301-302), which held a special sitting on the application by Myanmar of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) and the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29).

In particular, the Committee noted the need to continue to closely monitor the situation in Myanmar with regard to the exercise of freedom of association and the prohibition of forced labour, including through the establishment of a credible monitoring mechanism, while expressing deep concern at the military authorities’ persistent disregard of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry and ILO supervisory bodies. The Committee further deplored the absence of progress in restoring fundamental rights and civil liberties since the military coup. Emphasizing the deteriorating environment for freedom of association amid a fragile economic context and deploring the continued use of forced labour, the Committee called on the military authorities, in the strongest terms, to immediately implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (paras 641-644).

I would be grateful if you could also bring the above information to the attention of the employers’ and workers’ organizations of your country, and invite them to provide any relevant information on measures taken or envisaged by them in this regard, either directly or through your Government.

2 Thank you in advance for your urgent attention to the contents of this letter. I look forward to receiving a report on the above matters in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Gilbert F. Houngbo

CV/VV/NORMES/22.07.26, RG/lck/CABINET/23.07.26 Original: Permanent Mission – for transmission cc: CABINET, DDG, NORMES, LIBSYND, RO-AP, RO-EU, RO-AF, RO-AS, RO-LAC

TO ALL MEMBER STATES OF THE ILO

30 July 2026

Dear Minister,

I am writing to inform you that at its 356th Session (March 2026), the Governing Body discussed the follow-up to the resolution concerning the measures recommended by the Governing Body under article 33 of the ILO Constitution on the subject of Myanmar.

I wish to bring to your kind attention subparagraph (b)(ii) of its decision, by which the Governing Body “invited the Organization's constituents - governments, employers and workers - to continue taking steps to ensure an effective follow-up to the 2025 Conference resolution, including a review of their relations with the military authorities to ensure that they do not enable, facilitate or prolong, the violations of workers' rights in respect of freedom of association and forced labour, and respect for the principle of non-refoulement”.

In order to enable me to prepare an updated report on the situation of Myanmar for the consideration of the Governing Body at its 358th Session (November 2026), I would appreciate receiving information on any measures taken or envisaged by your Government or other relevant developments in this respect no later than 21 September 2026 (please send your communication to [email protected] to ensure efficient processing).

I further wish to draw your attention to the conclusions of the Committee on the Application of Standards of the International Labour Conference (paras 301-302), which held a special sitting on the application by Myanmar of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) and the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29).

In particular, the Committee noted the need to continue to closely monitor the situation in Myanmar with regard to the exercise of freedom of association and the prohibition of forced labour, including through the establishment of a credible monitoring mechanism, while expressing deep concern at the military authorities’ persistent disregard of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry and ILO supervisory bodies. The Committee further deplored the absence of progress in restoring fundamental rights and civil liberties since the military coup. Emphasizing the deteriorating environment for freedom of association amid a fragile economic context and deploring the continued use of forced labour, the Committee called on the military authorities, in the strongest terms, to immediately implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (paras 641-644).

I would be grateful if you could also bring the above information to the attention of the employers’ and workers’ organizations of your country, and invite them to provide any relevant information on measures taken or envisaged by them in this regard, either directly or through your Government.

2 Thank you in advance for your urgent attention to the contents of this letter. I look forward to receiving a report on the above matters in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Gilbert F. Houngbo