Ministerie van Sociale Zaken
en Werkgelegenheid Directie Internationale Zaken
Aan de Voorzitter van de Tweede Kamer Postbus 90801
2509 LV Den Haag
der Staten-Generaal Anna van Hannoverstraat 4
Binnenhof 1a Telefoon (070) 333 44 44
2513 AA `s-GRAVENHAGE Telefax (070) 333 40 19
Uw brief Ons kenmerk
IZ/IA/2005/93117
Onderwerp Datum
Nederlandse rapportage aan de IAO inzake 30 november 2005
Birma
Tijdens de 93ste Zitting van de Internationale Arbeidsconferentie (IAC) in juni 2005 heeft de
Internationale Arbeidsorganisatie (IAO) haar leden opgeroepen om de relaties met Birma en in het
bijzonder de handels- en investeringsrelaties te herzien, conform de resolutie inzake Birma uit
2000. Volgens de IAO is er in Birma nog steeds sprake van stelselmatig en wijdverspreid gebruik
van gedwongen arbeid door het militaire regime.
De Directeur-Generaal van de ILO, Juan Somavia, heeft alle overheden, werkgevers- en
werknemersorganisaties opgeroepen om tijdens de novembersessie van de Raad van Beheer van
de ILO in 2005 te rapporteren over de voortgang.
Naar aanleiding van de oproep van de heer Somavia heeft het Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en
Werkgelegenheid in samenwerking met het Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken en het Ministerie
van Economische Zaken een expertbijeenkomst gehouden op 3 november jl. De bijeenkomst had
een besloten karakter wat bijdroeg aan een levendig debat.
Het doel van de expertbijeenkomst was een brede informatie uitwisseling met het streven de
huidige stand van zaken met betrekking tot Nederlandse relaties met Birma van zoveel mogelijk
kanten te belichten. Tijdens de bijeenkomst is het Nederlandse ontmoedigingsbeleid verder
toegelicht en kracht bijgezet. Hierbij stuur ik u mede namens de Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken,
de Minister van Economische Zaken en de Staatssecretaris van Economische Zaken de rapportage
van Nederland aan de IAO. Indien u nog aanvullingen heeft zullen die separaat aan de IAO
worden toegezonden.
De Minister van Sociale Zaken
en Werkgelegenheid,
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(mr. A.J. de Geus)
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Dutch response to the request by the Director-General of the ILO of 15 July 2005 to
review our relations with Burma/Myanmar and to provide all relevant information on
policy and activities
Dutch policy
With respect to Burma/Myanmar, the Netherlands pursues a policy of discouraging economic
activities in or with Burma/Myanmar. This policy is the result of the June 2000 resolution of the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) condemning widespread use of forced labour by
Burma/Myanmars's ruling military junta and recommending the review of our relations with
Burma/Myanmar and to take appropriate measures.
Dutch policy to discourage economic activities in or with Burma/Myanmar comprises the following
elements:
1. denying trade and investment instruments to Burma/Myanmar;
2. informing businesses and individuals about the situation in Burma/Myanmar (for example,
through the websites of the Ministries of Economic Affairs and Foreign Affairs);
3. engaging in direct dialogue with businesses or individuals who are either conducting
economic activities in Burma/Myanmar or considering doing so, in order to discourage
such activities (for example, tourism);
4. urging businesses to keep to the principles of corporate social responsibility, in accordance
with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises;
5. becoming involved in third-party initiatives that seek to continue the dialogue between the
central government, business and industry, and civil society organisations (e.g. by helping to
organise conferences).
The Dutch policy covers not only trade and investment, but also extends to the service sector,
including tourism.
Expert meeting on Dutch relations with Burma/Myanmar (esp. trade and investment
relations)
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In response to the appeal from the ILO, the Ministry of Social Affairs, in cooperation with the
Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held an expert meeting on Dutch
relations with Burma/Myanmar (with an emphasis on trade and investment relations) on 3
November 2005. Representatives of companies from various sectors (timber industry, travel
organisations, oil and gas sector), the government, NGOs, parliament, trade unions and others
were present. It was the first time that a discussion of this scope took place in the Netherlands. The
purpose of the expert meeting was to facilitate debate and the exchange of information on Dutch-
Burmese relations, particularly as regards trade and investment. The Minister of Social Affairs and
Employment emphasised that established Dutch policy was to discourage economic activity in or
with Burma/Myanmar.
The meeting, which was closed, produced a lively debate between the various stakeholders
(including a number of representatives of the Burmese diaspora). This debate provided valuable
ideas and further actions of all parties involved. The government will see to its follow-up under the
Burma policy.
Other Dutch activities
1. The Netherlands supports the Fund for HIV/AIDS in Myanmar (FHAM). This year's
donations totalled 1 million. Depending on how the new FHAM programme is organised,
the Netherlands may be willing to donate the same amount for the next three years. FHAM
is actually the first humanitarian aid project in Burma/Myanmar itself. By supporting it, the
Netherlands is helping to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
2. Within the ILO the Netherlands has repeatedly called for full compliance by
Burma/Myanmar and other members of the ILO of the eight fundamental labour standards
as well as the Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its follow-up
mechanism.
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3. Within the EU, the OECD and the ILO, the Netherlands has stressed the importance of
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Promoting OECD guidelines for multinational
enterprises and advocating the importance of non-trade concerns in the OECD Trade
Committee are important components of Dutch CSR policy. The Netherlands have set up
a National Contact Point for the Implementation of the OECD guidelines, undertaking
promotional activities, handling inquiries and for the discussion with the parties concerned
on all matters covered by the Guidelines so that they can contribute to the solution of
problems which may arise in this context. One company decided to refrain from new
activities in Burma/Myanmar as a result of inquiries and mediation with all parties
concerned within the National Contact Point.
Another inquiry has led to an appeal to travel organisations by the Minister for Foreign
Trade to reconsider organising tours to Burma/Myanmar and to at least avoid the use of
state-owned facilities or facilities constructed with forced labour. She also called on travel
organisations to inform their clients about the human rights situation in Burma/Myanmar.
4. The Dutch Embassy in Thailand helps Burmese refugees in Burma/Myanmar through the
Thailand-Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) and through ZOA (Southeast Asia) Refugee
Care. In total, it donated 2.4 million to these organisations in 2005 and 2006.
5. The embassy also uses FSA funds to finance a number of smaller projects for Burmese
opposition groups in Thailand.
6. The Dutch Embassy remains in close contact with the various Burmese opposition groups
in Thailand as well as in Burma/Myanmar itself.
Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid