Friday, February 17, 2012

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) delegation visits Burma

Feb 17, 2012
Trade Unions

ITUC delegation, in its first ever visit to Burma, met with Trade Unions 
who had applied for registration, met with released FTUB members, NLD 
leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Bago divsion NLD leader U Myat Hla 
and Ministry of Labor.

Business tycoon and MP facing lawsuit


16 February 2012
Powerful business tycoon and MP Khin Shwe has been placed in the 
crosshairs of aggrieved farmers in Rangoon division who claim he 
abused his links to the former junta to confiscate swathes of arable land.
The group of farmers in Mingalardon township are preparing to sue the 
owner of Zaykabar Company, which had been behind the construction 
of an industrial complex close to Shwenanthar village.

Rangoon strike ends with pay rise


17 February 2012
Owners of the Tai Yi shoe factory in Rangoon have agreed to meet 
the demands of workers who went on strike last week in protest at
low salaries and poor working conditions.
Employers had initially refused to budge on the issue of a salary rise, 
but both sides have now agreed on an increase of 100 kyat per hour 
($US0.11), from 75 kyat. Not factoring in the holidays they say they 
are forced to take, that salary will provide them with only $US200 per 
year for a six-day week, although a bonus of 6,000 kyat is on offer 
each month if they do not skip a day of work.

Railroad service poised to improve


16 February 2012
(Mizzima) – China and India are loaning Burma US$ 155 million to 
upgrade its railroad system and passenger services. The improved 
service will come with an increase in passenger fares, said the  
Xinhua news agency on Thursday.

Thailand building roads, railway link to Dawei

16 February 2012
(Mizzima) – Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has cited 

India and Asean as key engines of global economic growth, saying that
Asean is committed to deepening its engagement with India. Greater
connectivity is a key to achieving the goal, he said.

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Rohingya Denied Passports to Work in Thailand


16 February 2012
Ethnic Rohingya from western Burma's Arakan State say that Burmese 
authorities in the Thai border town of Ranong have refused to issue them 
the documents they need to work in Thailand legally.
Around 20 Rohingya currently working on the Thai resort island of Phuket
said that they have been unable to obtain “border passports” because
local Burmese authorities have refused to recognize them as
Burmese citizens.