Burma
International Development
Adrian Sanders (Torbay, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development
what assessment his Department has made of the human rights and working
conditions of workers in Burma; and what steps he is taking to persuade
the Burmese Government to allow workers to form trades unions.
Alan Duncan (Minister of State, International Development; Rutland and Melton, Conservative)
In
recent months there has been progress made with regards to labour
rights in Burma, such as the Labour Organisations Bill that came into
force on 9 March which
allows the free formation of workers organisations. However, the human
rights and working conditions of workers in Burma, particularly the use
of forced labour, remains a serious concern.
Department for International Development and Foreign Office officials are in close contact with international and civil society organisations, including the International Labour Organisation and Trades Union Congress, and local bodies on these important issues.