In an open letter to members of the European Commission and the European Parliament, the Myanmar Labour Alliance—a coalition of trade union federations and labour organizations—called for the rejection of the EU-funded MADE in Myanmar (Multi-Stakeholder Alliance for Decent Employment in the Myanmar Apparel Industry) project.
The alliance asserts that the European Union will fund the MADE in Myanmar project, formerly known as the SMART Myanmar project, which will be carried out by Sequa gGmbH and the European Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar (EuroCham Myanmar). The alliance claims it objected to the SMART Myanmar project because it further undermined the right to organise at work following the military coup.
The letter declares, ‘We will not participate in the MADE in Myanmar project,’ and goes on to describe the mistreatment labour leaders and trade unionists have endured at the hands of the Myanmar military since the coup on 1st February 2021, including arrest orders for those individuals.
According to the letter, on 2nd March of this year, the SAC deemed 16 labour organisations to be unlawful and issued arrest warrants for union officials and labour leaders. There are currently more than 300 union members and campaigners behind bars.
They argued that the fundamental requirements of the UK-based Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) are not being satisfied in the garment industry in Burma, with at least 53 union leaders and activists dead and many more driven into hiding.
Disregarding all these, the European Union has provided € 3 million to renew the MADE in Myanmar project, which is also funded by private sector retailers and fashion brand companies, the letter noted.
The letter urged the European Commission to halt the perk known as ‘Everything But Guns’ for Myanmar since the SAC’s ‘anti-human crimes’ against the country’s citizens violate every norm upon which the EU bases its trade policies.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
