- On 16 December 2025, IndustriALL Global Union (IndustriALL) filed an OECD NCP complaint against Belgian headquartered garment and textile manufacturer, Sioen Industries, over its continued sourcing from Myanmar.
- The complaint was filed together with Myanmar trade unions Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM), Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) and Belgian trade unions. Belgian trade unions have unsuccessfully tried to engage with Sioen since the coup in 2021, seeking options for a responsible exit from Myanmar.
Overarching allegations in the complaint related to the military context in Myanmar
- Companies sourcing from Myanmar cannot meet the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (OECD Guidelines) without violating military law, which restricts freedom of association, freedom of movement and freedom of expression.
- There is no possibility for trade union representation under military law in Myanmar, in violation of the OECD Guidelines. The complaint alleges that hundreds of union members and workers have been arrested since the coup and 29 union members, including leaders, have been charged under treason and sedition rules.
- The systematic and severe human and labour rights violations are foreseeable for any brand sourcing from Myanmar. There has been consistent reporting on these issues by NGOs and international organisations, including the 2021 ETI-commissioned Due Diligence Design report, the ILO Commission of Inquiry’s findings on forced labour and freedom of association (2023) and its 2025 decision to invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution, Human Rights Watch ongoing reporting and the Business and Human Rights Centre’s allegations tracker.
Specific allegations in the complaint related to Sioen’s sourcing from Myanmar
- Sioen reportedly operates at least one facility in Myanmar, employing 1,021 workers. The facility is reportedly in the Hlaing Thar Yar Industrial Zone, where a meeting was held by the military council in February 2023. The meeting referred to the exiled government as a “terrorist organisation” and union leaders as “collaborators”.
- Workers at the facility report constant fear of retaliation by management, the military or the police. Evidence is anonymised – the complaint states “until the issues are accepted for further examination and workers are safe from military, management or police intervention”.
- Sioen does not disclose a human rights due diligence policy and has not reported on its human rights due diligence in alignment with OECD Guidelines since 2022. Additionally, Sioen has not engaged with trade unions and/or prevented reprisals against workers.
Additional context
- In November 2024, IndustriALL filed NCP complaints against the UK garment brand Next, German garment brand New Yorker, and Polish garment brand LPP over their continued sourcing from Myanmar. These cases are ongoing.