On 15 January 2020, SMOU and Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Independent Federation of Myanmar Seafarers (IFOMS) to strengthen bilateral relationships between both Unions. The signing took place in the city of Yangon, where SMOU Assistant General Secretary Gwee Guo Duan and SOS General Secretary Daniel Tan, with IFOMS General Secretary Aung Kyaw Linn, penned the MOU in the presence of ITF Senior Advisor Tomas Abrahamsson.

This MOU will see both unions cooperating for the benefit and welfare of Myanmar seafarers on board Singapore-flagged vessels, providing mutual assistance to organise and represent the seafarers. Both unions are affiliated with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), and the signing is in line with the ITF Mexico City policy, where bilateral relationships are encouraged between national flag unions and labour supply unions.