Belarusian Trade Unions Stand with Myanmar Colleagues in Campaign Against the Junta’s “War Economy”

Belarusian independent trade unions express solidarity with the Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM) and the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM), who have issued a joint statement titled “Responsible Exit Is the Only Responsible Choice in Myanmar’s War Economy.”

In their statement, Myanmar’s unions stress that five years after the military coup the country has become not merely a “high-risk” sourcing destination, but a full-fledged war economy in which foreign-currency revenues feed the repressive apparatus. A particular focus is placed on the garment sector as one of the junta’s key hard-currency sources: according to the statement, garment exports totalled USD 5.5 billion in 2022, remained above USD 5 billion in 2023, and fell to USD 4.46 billion in 2024.

CTUM and IWFM note that Europe alone imported approximately EUR 2.8 billion worth of textiles and clothing from Myanmar, with a significant share entering duty-free under the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme. The unions underline that under centralized foreign-exchange controls, export earnings are captured and redirected—effectively becoming part of the machinery of repression.

The statement recalls that in June 2025 the International Labour Organization invoked Article 33 of the ILO Constitution in relation to Myanmar—an exceptional “last resort” measure used only in cases of serious and persistent violations—and called on ILO member States to review their relations with Myanmar to avoid contributing to abuses directly or indirectly. Against this backdrop, Myanmar’s unions also demand a review of trade preferences, arguing that EBA conditions are “clearly not being met,” as freedom of association has been dismantled, independent unions are banned, and trade union leaders face arrests and persecution.

The statement further emphasizes that a “responsible exit” by companies is not an abrupt withdrawal, but a rights-based process that includes wage guarantees, severance pay, compensation funds, and meaningful consultations with the legitimate representatives of workers—including those operating in exile.

Belarusian independent trade unions consider this approach both important and directly relevant to the Belarusian context. When regimes destroy freedom of association and turn labour into an instrument of control, international solidarity, corporate accountability, and the use of ILO mechanisms are not “diplomacy”—they are practical protection for working people. This makes it all the more vital to strengthen solidarity, especially as the authorities in Belarus and Myanmar are expanding cooperation.

We stand with Myanmar’s trade unions who are being crushed by the military junta, and we insist: workers’ rights and trade union freedoms must never be treated as bargaining chips—neither in Myanmar nor in Belarus.

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