Burma Insight

Yangon, February 25 -- Deputy Director General of the International Labour Organization ( ILO ) Guy Ryder held one and a half hour talks with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi at her residence this morning on the fourth day of his four-day visit to Myanmar.

While emerging from the talks, Guy Ryder described Aung San Suu Kyi as “a person well-informed about what ILO has been doing in Burma.”

In explaining to local-based foreign newsmen about his one and a half hour talks with Aung San Suu Kyi, Guy Ryder said: “We have a long and detailed meeting on labour situation in Burma. We have also discussed the role of the ILO in your country and what we must be doing in future here.”

“I am glad that the ILO has got a clear support and encouragement from Aung San Suu Kyi which will make us to work harder and contribute more for improving the labour situation in Burma,” said Guy Ryder.

Asked about the forced labour issue that has strained the relations between ILO and Myanmar, Guy Ryder said: “We are making some progress in forced labour issue but there are other issues that still need to be pursued.”

“I am glad the military regime has allowed ILO official to visit Burma. I thinks my talks with Guy Ryder will help us whatever we plan for improvement of labour situations in Burma,” said Aung San Suu Kyi adding that she is all for extending the ILO mandate in Myanmar more and more.

Guy Ryder, who arrived here last Tuesday, met and held talks with Minister for Labour U Aung Kyi in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

Asked to give his remarks on his talks with Minister for Labour, Guy Ryder said: “We got all the information we need and it made us confirmed in our view that our presence in Burma is still needed as there is much more to do for labour situations.”

A diplomatic source said on behalf of ILO, Guy Ryder yesterday signed a 12-month extension of the ILO’s agreement with the Myanmar Labour Ministry, which allows the ILO to continue to maintain an office in Myanmar for tackling all labour issues including that of forced labour.