By Min Ni Kyaw - Apr 15, 2024
Industri Energi announced on April 11 that the Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights for 2024 was awarded to Myanmar trade union leader Daw Khaing Zar Aung.
This prize is awarded annually to an individual or organization that works primarily to promote trade union rights and strengthen trade union organizations.
The awarding committee said that the struggle against the military dictatorship and the efforts to achieve true democracy, including basic labor rights, in Myanmar will be highlighted by being awarded this prize. The awarding committee also noted that trade union representatives and members are at the center of trade union activities and opposing against the military dictatorship in Myanmar and Daw Khaing Zar Aung is a symbol of their contribution to a better society.
Daw Khaing Zar Aung started working as a garment worker at the age of 16 and later joined trade union activities after she worked as a migrant worker in Thailand.
She participated in the movement for the rights of expatriate migrant workers and returned to Myanmar when the transitions period began. Later, she became the leader of the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar(IWFM) and a leading member of the Confederation of Trade Unions, Myanmar (CTUM). Daw Khaing Zar Aung brought together the young women workers in Myanmar's garment industry after the rapid expansion of investment by many brands in Myanmar due to cheap labors.
After the bloody military coup in 2021, Daw Khaing Za Aung was forced to leave the country and appeared in European and world forums as the Myanmar’s trade union leader.
The awarding committee said that Daw Khaing Zar Aung opposed against the military dictatorship at international forums, incited gatherings to achieve international unity, instigated the withdrawal of special trade privileges during the period when the military dictator took power and forced international brands to leave Myanmar.
Trade unions played a key role in the protests and the struggle against the military dictatorship, forming the Myanmar Labor Alliance and supporting national civil disobedience movements in support of the pro-democratic government (National Unity Government, NUG).
In the alliance, Daw Khaing Za Aung together with her comrades such as labor leaders, female garment workers are, ethnic groups, youths and students, political groups and labor unions are fighting for the establishment of federal democratic state.
