The International Labour Organization announced on 19 November 2004 it was sending a high level mission to Burma to examine the Government's commitment to ending forced labour.

The Governing Body said "a reactivation of the measures adopted under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution [which calls for tough sanctions against countries that use forced labour] would have already been justified now," but it decided first to send a mission due to changes in the Government.

In 2000, the ILO for the first time called on Member States to "review their trade and other relations with [Burma] in light of the very serious situation concerning forced labour". In March, the body will decide whether to impose sanctions.

Trade unions estimate more than 800,000 people are used as forced labour in agriculture, as porters and in construction for little or no pay.