Monica Barnes
Question:37 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the reports of the use of forced labour in Burma. [16923/00]
Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
This Government is aware of the practice of forced labour in Burma and has taken action, along with its EU-partners, on a number of recent occasions.
The EU is active in ongoing discussions at the current ILO conference in Geneva which concerns in part the implementation of the recommendations of the ILO commission of inquiry on forced labour in Burma. A resolution regarding Burma will be discussed by the ILO this week.
The EU is taking a strong stance at the current ILO meetings and will issue a statement which will, inter alia, restate EU condemnation of human rights abuses in Burma, refer to previous EU action against Burma and point out that the means for resolving the issue rest with the Burmese authorities. It will also point out that no steps have been taken by Burma to implement the recommendations of the 1998 ILO commission of inquiry and call for measures to be taken against Burma under Article 33 of the ILO convention. These measures can include suspension.
The terms of the resolution will essentially give the Burmese government another chance to implement the commission's recommendations. These recommendations call on Burma to repeal legislation permitting forced labour and to take action against those exacting forced labour. Article 33 sanctions would, under the terms of the agreement, be implemented by the ILO governing body in November if there has been no movement by the Burmese authorities by then.
At the recent 56th Commission on Human Rights, an EU – sponsored resolution on the situation of human rights in Burma was adopted without a vote. This resolution deplored the widespread use of forced labour, including for work on infrastructure projects, production of food for the military and as porters for the army. The resolution also called on the Government of Burma to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to put an end to violations of the integrity of the human being and forced labour.
The resolution also called on the Government of Burma to cease the widespread and systematic use of forced labour and use of exploitative child labour and to implement the recommendations of the commission of inquiry of the International Labour Organisation regarding the implementation of the Forced Labour Convention 1930 (No. 29) of the ILO.
Furthermore when the EU reviewed its com mon position on Burma in April 2000, it extended and strengthened its sanctions against the Burmese regime, because of continuing concern over the human rights situation there.