International Trade Union Confederation try suspect business links with burma

INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION (ITUC)

ITUC Online
174/111007

ITUC calls on Companies to End Business Links with Burma

Burmese Trade Union Federation Asks Companies to Disinvest

Brussels, 11 October 2007 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC is currently writing
to
430 companies
worldwide
which have or are suspected to have business links with Burma, calling
on
them to end their business links. The action is in support of the ITUC
associated organisation the Federation of Trade Unions – Burma (FTUB),
which
today renewed its call
for
companies to disinvest in the country. In the letter, ITUC General
Secretary underlines that in spite of the growing number of companies
doing
business there, economic conditions for the vast majority of Burmese
are
deteriorating, while it is the military junta and its small coterie of
supporters which are benefiting.

“The Burmese junta, responsible for years of murder, torture, massive
forced
labour and absolute repression of the population, is ripping off
billions of
dollars and every single business deal which is done helps line the
pockets
of the generals. This corrupt and incompetent regime is responsible
for a
catastrophic fall in living standards across the country. , Foreign
investment has done nothing to stop that. On the contrary, it fuels
repression by enabling the regime to purchase weapons used against
defenceless civilians: the army’s share in the national budget is 40%.
Health and education combined amount to less than 7%! ‘Business as
usual’ in
Burma will only make the junta stronger”, said Ryder.

The Global Unionspublic database
listing
companies with actual or suspected business relations with Burma is
updated
on an ongoing basis, and companies which show that they no longer have
business links are removed from the list. Companies which do not
withdraw
will be the subject of further pressure in their home countries from
ITUC
national affiliates and also by the Global Union Federations in the
different economic sectors.

The company-based action is taking place alongside trade union campaign
action to get governments, the European Union and other
intergovernmental
bodies to strengthen and deepen economic and financial sanctions and
cut off
military and security supplies to the regime. ITUC and European TUC
affiliates are currently pressing the European governments to ensure
that EU
sanctions
which
will be reviewed on Monday, include a comprehensive ban on EU trade
with
Burma covering all strategic sectors, including in particular oil and
gas,
gemstones, and tropical wood.

Founded on 1 November 2006, the ITUC represents 168 million workers in
153
countries and territories and has 305 national affiliates.

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32
2 224
0204 or +32 476 621 018.