Under authoritarian regimes, the labour movement is not only a struggle for rights but also a commitment to democracy and freedom. This month, exiled labour leaders from Belarus, Myanmar, and Hong Kong shared their experiences of resistance in an online seminar, emphasising the importance of international solidarity for the labour movement.
Belarus: Workers’ Struggles Under a Dictatorship
Belarusian exiled union leader Lizaveta Merliak pointed out that since 2022, the government has considered independent unions as a threat, launching a severe crackdown that has resulted in the incarceration of many union leaders, some of whom have been subjected to inhumane treatment in jail. The authorities have disbanded all independent unions, forcing workers to join government-controlled “yellow unions” and placing informants in workplaces. Dissenters suffer dismissal or imprisonment, and many have been forced into exile.
However, the labour movement has not died. Lizaveta’s Salidarnast e.V., in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), exposes government atrocities and calls for global attention to workers’ rights. “We, the working people, have no guns, no arms, but we need tools to build a just society based on the principles of decent work and freedom of association,” she asserts.
Myanmar: Workers’ Resistance Under Military Rule
Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar’s unions have been suppressed, with independent organisations destroyed and replaced by military-controlled entities. Workers are required to participate in activities that benefit the military, and industries are constantly monitored. With income as low as $1.11 per day, living conditions are severe. Khaing Zar Aung from the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar stated that the military’s conscription policy has led many young workers to flee, resulting in companies using child labour and forced labour.
She criticises multinational companies for enabling the military’s tyranny and calls for international brands to withdraw from Myanmar while urging the EU to revoke trade preferences. Through the ILO, she exposes military violations of workers’ rights and advocates for international sanctions to weaken the military’s financial resources. “Only with the support of the international community can we rebuild a fairer Myanmar,” she emphasises.
Hong Kong: Struggling Amidst Severe Suppression from the National Security Law
Christopher Mung from Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor shared how the National Security Law suppresses independent labour movements and revealed the Chinese government’s transnational repression. He noted that since 2020, over 300 people have been arrested for “endangering national security,” and more than 200 unions and around 60 civic organisations have been forced to dissolve, with union leaders like former HKCTU General Secretary Lee Cheuk Yan still imprisoned.
He emphasised that the repression is not limited to Hong Kong; the government has also issued warrants for overseas activists. He and 18 other exiles have bounties on their heads, with agents dispatched to monitor them even in the UK.
However, the labour movement has not ceased. “The regime can destroy an organisation, but it cannot erase workers’ struggles,” Mung stated. Despite the challenges posed by the National Security Law, many workers continue to organise and voice their concerns through social media and spontaneous networks, such as the strikes by Foodpanda delivery workers, showcasing the unyielding spirit of resistance.
Finally, other scholars and representatives from international trade unions participating in the seminar noted that while the ILO lacks enforcement power, it can support workers’ rights through monitoring mechanisms, complaint procedures, and international pressure. In authoritarian countries where the labour movement is suppressed, and global capital colludes with governments to weaken unions, there is a greater need for unions to use international solidarity, impose pressure on corporations, and engage in political advocacy to counter oppression.