Italy's stand against forced labour

[burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Press Release -  Ministry of Labour
Rome: 22/02/2001      

Subject:	Italy's stand against forced labour in Burma

The  Labour minister, Cesare Salvi, and under-secretary for labour Raffaele 
Morese, met today with Dr.Sein Win, Prime minister in exile of Burma, 
and his delegation.
During the meeting Minister Salvi reaffirmed the concern of the Italian 
Government over the continued violations of fundamental political 
freedom, human and labour rights by the military junta and expressed 
their hopes of a rapid restoration of democracy and democratic 
institutions in Burma.

Furthermore, the Minister re-iterated the opposition of the Italian 
government and its officials to the widespread and systematic violation 
of the 29th International Convention of the ILO on forced and compulsory 
labour in Burma.  

He affirmed the Italian Government's active commitment to the future 
implementation of the ILO resolution against forced labour in Burma.

The minister reaffirmed the commitment to the immediate adoption of the 
most appropriate measures to be taken by Italy and Europe, to ensure the 
military junta's rapid introduction of legislation which will ensure a complete 
ban on compulsory and forced labour throughout the country.

The Minister also informed the Burmese Prime minister in exile, Dr. Sein Win, 
that, with the co-operation of the Ministry of Foreign affairs, he intends 
to instigate research in order to establish the types and levels of  
import/export trade between Burma and Italy and of any Italian 
investment in Burma.

Finally, Minister Salvi has promised to request the Council of the European 
Union at the meeting on March 6 for Employment and Social Policy, 
to take further steps to urge the Burmese military junta to enforce the 
ILO resolution against forced and compulsory labour in Burma.


Rome, 22 February 2001