Over the last few years, the political climate in Burma has seemed to become less repressive with increasing democratic freedoms. However, this change has also unleashed new forces in society. Burma has seen major ethnic cleansing pogroms against Burmese muslims by forces associated with the state.
This new wave of state sponsored repression is a stark warning for workers in Burma as that country prepares itself to become a new global production centre for the garment industry. Freedom of association laws for workers are very weak, wages extremely low and labour conditions often incredibly onerous.
Over the last few years, the political climate in Burma has seemed to become less repressive with increasing democratic freedoms. However, this change has also unleashed new forces in society. Burma has seen major ethnic cleansing pogroms against Burmese muslims by forces associated with the state.
This new wave of state sponsored repression is a stark warning for workers in Burma as that country prepares itself to become a new global production centre for the garment industry. Freedom of association laws for workers are very weak, wages extremely low and labour conditions often incredibly onerous.
