IFOMS Headquarters Grand Opening

The Independent Federation of Myanmar Seafarers (IFOMS) recently opened its new headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, with the help of the State Enterprise Workers’ Relations Confederation Foundation (SERCF), a Thai trade union. The opening, which took place on Saturday, August 9, was celebrated by IFOMS, an affiliate of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

IFOMS was founded in June 2014 to advocate for the rights and interests of Myanmar seafarers. According to IFOMS General Secretary Aung Kyaw Linn, the new office was made possible by the ongoing support of the ITF, the ITF Seafarers' Trust, and other maritime unions. He also thanked SERCF for their assistance in re-establishing the union in Bangkok, where it can continue to serve seafarers.

Scott McDine, ITF Asia Pacific Regional Secretary, stated that the ITF is committed to supporting IFOMS and recognizing the important contributions of Myanmar seafarers to the global shipping industry. He announced that the ITF will increase its resources for IFOMS and strengthen its organizing programs throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Despite initial progress in fighting exploitation after its 2014 creation, IFOMS faced a major setback following the 2021 coup in Myanmar, which led to ongoing violence and civil war. Many international businesses, including shipping companies, have since left the country, making the need for a reliable, independent union even more critical.

Since its beginning, IFOMS has been instrumental in addressing rights abuses for over 700 seafarers, recovering more than $10.3 million in unpaid wages.