Burma: Forced Labour

HL Deb 07 June 2004 vol 662 cc3-4WA

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action the International Labour Organisation has so far taken to prevent the use of forced labour in Burma; and whether they will urge the International Labour Organisation to increase its efforts in this respect. [HL2878]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The Burmese Government have still to address effectively the international community's concerns over the use of forced labour in Burma. We fully support the efforts of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to end permanently the use of forced labour. Burma's general system of preferences trade privileges were suspended by the EC in 1997 in response to our concerns over forced labour in country. The EU has repeatedly condemned Burma's lack of progress on forced labour, most recently in March, at the ILO's meetings in Geneva. In June 2004, the ILO's governing body will give further consideration to the situation in Burma.