The AFL-CIO welcomes the Burmese government’s decision to remove some 2,000 people from a blacklist of more than 6,000 banned from entering the country.  Among those affected by this decision is Maung Maung, the general secretary of the ITUC-affiliated Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB). After decades in exile, Maung Maung’s return represents an important step in Burma’s history and provides hope to millions of unorganized workers.

The names on the blacklist are kept secret, although those attempting to visit and deported upon arrival are informed they are blacklisted. While the removal of more than 2,000 names, including a prominent trade unionist and pro-democracy leaders is a welcome sign, the country still has a long way to go with roughly 4,000 people still banned from entering Burma—for reasons that remain unclear.

Maung Maung visited the AFL-CIO last year and spoke about Burma’s new Labor Organization Law, which was signed into law by President Thein Sein in March of this year. Since 1996, the International Labor Organization (ILO) has been examining instances of forced labor, child labor and lack of freedom of association. Maung Maung noted this June that Burma is experiencing some improvements in worker rights.

Maung Maung’s ability to return to Burma represents a broader opening by the Burmese government to allow workers to more freely exercise their right to organize unions. Since June, 35 FTUB-affiliated local unions have successfully registered. The AFL-CIO continues to support the FTUB’s programs to organize workers. The International Trade Union Confederation will establish an office in Burma to work with Global Union Federations and the FTUB, and the AFL-CIO welcomes Maung Maung to Washington, D.C., this week to continue to strengthen our ongoing support for FTUB’s programs to organize workers.

Read Maung Maung’s interview with the ILO.