TUC General Secretary writes to Myanmar Ambassador to call for the immediate release of jailed garment union activists

The TUC General Secretary has written to the Ambassador of Myanmar to call for the immediate release of trade unions activists Naing Zaw Kyi Win, Thu Zaw Kyi Win, Myo Min Min and Naing Htay Lwin who were imprisoned for supporting garment workers striking in Yangon for living wages and basic rights at work.

Dear Ambassador,

Imprisonment of garment labour activists

On behalf of the British Trades Union Congress and almost 6 million members of our affiliated unions and British workers, I would like to urge your government to release without conditions trade unions activists Naing Zaw Kyi Win, Thu Zaw Kyi Win, Myo Min Min and Naing Htay Lwin. 

These four activists were arrested whilst engaged in legitimate trade union activities.  Naing Zaw Kyi Win was arrested in February and Thu Zaw Kyi Win was arrested in March after providing support to striking garment workers from factories in Yangon’s Shwe Pyi Thar Industrial Zone.   Union leaders Myo Min Min and Naing Htay Lwin were arrested in February shortly after giving a press conference explaining the demands of the striking garment workers.  All four are currently in Insein Prison in Yangon.

The TUC urges you to press your government to drop the charges against these activists and ensure that, pending their release, they are not tortured or transferred to a remote prison and have regular access to family members and lawyers. They must also be provided with any medical treatment that they may require.

The TUC is concerned that a number of other labour activists are also being repressed in Myanmar due to restrictions in the law, including Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. 

The TUC calls for the law to be amended to allow for full freedom of association and collective bargaining, in compliance with the core Conventions of the International Labour Organisation which Myanmar is bound to uphold.

I would be grateful for confirmation that you have conveyed these calls to your government.

Yours sincerely

FRANCES O’GRADY

General Secretary