The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) strongly condemns the announcement by Myanmar’s military junta to end the state of emergency and proceed with so-called “elections” in December 2025.
“These moves are nothing more than a strategic fraud to disguise the military dictatorship as democratic rule.”
ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle
The decision to invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution marked a historic escalation in global pressure on Myanmar, demanding an immediate end to repression and the restoration of freedom of association and democratic governance. The move followed earlier recommendations from ILO supervisory mechanisms and UN bodies.
As recalled in the ILO resolution, the repeated extensions of the state of emergency under military rule have directly obstructed the restoration of a democratically elected government.
There can be no recognition of elections under military dictatorship.
Any electoral process must be inclusive, transparent, and free from intimidation.
All trade unionists and political prisoners must be unconditionally released.
Freedom of association and freedom of expression must be restored in full and the use of forced labour must end.
The 2008 military-imposed constitution must be replaced through a democratic process reflecting the will of the people, including their legitimate representatives in the National Unity Government and the Confederation of Trade Unions, Myanmar (CTUM).
Luc Triangle continued: “The regime’s decision to end the state of emergency and announce elections purely on its own terms is not a step towards democracy; it is a cosmetic trick to rebrand a brutal military regime as a legitimate civilian government.
“The planned elections are clearly designed to entrench military control. The junta has banned independent trade unions and civil society organisations, changed the political party registration law to silence opposition parties and has criminalised criticism of the electoral process with prison sentences of up to 10 years.
“Most democratic leaders, including trade unionists, are imprisoned, in exile or in hiding. In addition, the military controls less than 30 per cent of the national territory making any national vote inherently unfree and unfair.
“There can be no recognition of results from elections conducted under threat, exclusion and occupation. The ITUC joins the CTUM and the people of Myanmar in exposing and rejecting the junta’s illegitimate electoral farce. The world must reject this sham electoral process and build coordinated action under ILO Article 33, including the immediate halt to any relationship that could contribute to or enable the perpetuation of violence and repression, such as through the supply of military equipment or resources, including jet fuel, or the flow of funds to military authorities.
“The CTUM and people of Myanmar are courageously building democratic alternatives from the ground up. We must stand with them against military oppression.”
