Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Adrian Sanders (Torbay, Liberal Democrat) Burma International Development Alan Duncan


Burma
International Development

Photo of Adrian Sanders
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.
Photo of Alan Duncan
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.