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  Labour issues: General - July-Sep. 2001  

See also other materials on "Labour issues: General"

July-Sep. 2001:

The role of the international financial institutions in a globalised economy - Trade union statement to the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions [ICFTU], Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD [TUAC], and International Trade Secretariats [ITS], statement to annual meetings of IMF and World Bank, 29-30 September 2001)

Celebrate the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement:...because the agreement includes provisions to protect labor and the environment, some members of Congress and the American business community voiced their opposition to the deal. As two people deeply involved in negotiating the environmental provisions of the agreement for our respective countries, we believe that a closer examination of these provisions counters their concerns. (Ambassador Alia Hatough-Bouran [headed Jordan's environment team as part of the negotiating team for the free trade agreement between Jordan and the United States] and John Audley [former United States Environmental Protection Agency Trade Policy Coordinator], Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 28 Sep. 2001)

WTO: Agenda For Doha Could Yield New Round Of Trade Talks: A document released Thursday by the World Trade Organization could lead to a new round of global trade talks if it is approved by member countries at the WTO ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 9 - 13...Despite that development, there has been little progress on agreements over labor standards and the environment (UN Wire, 28 Sep. 2001) 

Brazil loses a warrior against child labour: The global trade union movement against child labour has lost one of their brightest forces to a brutal assassination. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) was deeply shocked to hear of the death of Carlos Alberto Santos de Oliveira and calls on the Brazilian authorities to fully investigate his assassination. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 28 Sep. 2001)

Breakthrough in Mexico: Kuk Dong workers win independent union - Workers at the Kuk Dong factory in Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico have finally won their independent union and a signed collective agreement. This is a precedent-setting victory that could open the door to worker organizing in Mexico's maquiladora sector where, to date, independent unions have not been tolerated. (Campaign for Labor Rights and Maquiladora Solidarity Network, 26 Sep. 2001)

Pioneering trade union improves conditions in China 'sweatshop': A pioneering semi-independent trade union has vastly improved the lot of workers at a southern China factory [Taiwanese-managed Kong Tai Shoes plant in the special economic zone of Shenzhen] making shoes for US sports giant Reebok, slashing their hours and forcing through better working and living conditions, a union official said...The union had been formed with the agreement of the official All China Federation of Trades Unions (ACFTU), with almost all officials freely elected in July, he said, although ACTFU had appointed the union head. China outlaws unofficial unions and their formation is habitually repressed. However in this case the union was formed at the request of Reebok after it kept receiving direct representations from workers about working conditions, which had been rejected by the factory's owners, said Zhao. (AFP, 26 Sep. 2001)

Lead Editorial: Convince BOV on Burma - Time is winding down for the Board of Visitors to show University students that their opinions matter. Tomorrow is the final docket meeting to determine the Board's agenda for its next meeting, to be held Oct. 18-20. If Rector John P. Ackerly III declines to place divestment from Burma on the agenda, he risks losing student confidence in the Board's ability to govern the University in a fair and open manner. The resolution Student Council passed last week was not the first time students have asked the Board to discuss divesting the $1.6 million the University has invested in Unocal, a corporation with ties to the abusive Burmese regime. (The Cavalier Daily [University of Virginia], 25 Sep. 2001)

Chiquita announces release of first corporate responsibility report:...This Report details the Company’s performance in relation to its Core Values, the 100% certification of its Company-owned farms in Latin America to the environmental and social standards of the Rainforest Alliance’s Better Banana Project, and the degree of its compliance with the international labor standard Social Accountability 8000 (SA8000)...It also includes four case studies on environmental and social issues in the banana industry. (Chiquita, 24 Sep. 2001)

Asbestos Related Cancers On the Rise: Industrialized as well as developing countries are under threat of asbestos exposure in the workplace, said researchers at the 11th Annual Congress of the European Respiratory Society today in Berlin...millions of people, largely in poorer countries, continue to suffer daily exposure to asbestos. (Environment News Service, 24 Sep. 2001)

CHIQUITA - Sustainable development - Chiquita, which produces a quarter of Latin American bananas, has spent eight years working to ensure all its banana farms in Latin America meet labour and environmental standards that are independently verified by an international non-governmental organization (Ethical Performance magazine, autumn 2001)

ILO symposium to promote social concerns at World Bank and International Monetary Fund:...While the international financial institutions gradually have become more receptive to dialogue with global trade unions, a discussion paper prepared for the symposium argues that their policies still fail to address the negative consequences of globalization for workers around the world. The document, entitled "Trade unions and the global economy: An unfinished story," points to a number of instances where the policies of the financial institutions run contrary to ILO core Conventions, namely on the right to bargain collectively, and to universally-accepted provisions for social protection. (International Labour Organization, 21 Sep. 2001)

Council approves divestment resolution: Student Council voted unanimously Tuesday in support of a resolution stating continued support for the divestment of University stocks in Unocal, a California-based energy company conducting business in Burma. (Grace Chen, The Cavalier Daily [University of Virginia], 20 Sep. 2001)

Basket Case: Pottery Barn Backs Out of Burma - 20th Company in 14 Months to Cut Business Ties Reveals Burma is "New South Africa" - Pottery Barn, a home furnishings store owned by San Francisco-based Williams Sonoma company has announced to the Free Burma Coalition (FBC) that the company has broken off all business ties with the country of Burma "because of the current political and human rights issues." The decision makes the $1.8 billion home retailing giant the 20th company to end business with Burma during the past 14 months on account of human rights abuses, joining other retailers such as Wal-Mart, Costco, TJ Maxx, Fila, IKEA, Sarah Lee, and Perry Ellis. (Global Exchange, 20 Sep. 2001)

UVA Student Council Condemns Oil Company for Ties to Slavery, Urges Board to Act: The University of Virginia Student Council unanimously passed a resolution last night calling for the University to immediately divest its $2 million of stock in Unocal, a California-based energy company. Student Council condemned Unocal for contracting with the Burmese military, an institution that regularly murders, rapes, and enslaves its citizens for infrastructure development projects. (Free Burma Coalition, 19 Sep. 2001)

Nike, Harvard Enter Into Apparel Deal [reports on differences of opinion about Nike’s labor practices] (Eugenia V. Levenson, Harvard Crimson, 18 Sep. 2001)

Forced labour in Burma: international team investigates - A former Governor General of Australia and chief justice of Sri Lanka arrive in Burma today as part of a team investigating whether the country continues to violate international agreements on forced labour. (Christian Aid, 17 Sep. 2001)

Business and Labour Responds to HIV/AIDS in Asia: The International Labor Organisation (ILO) has identified HIV/AIDS as a major threat to enterprise and the workplace. The business community must play a role in implementing sound workplace policies, raising public awareness on HIVAIDS, mobilizing political commitment, and contributing resources to the national response. In this context, a conference on business and labour responses to HIV/AIDS is being held on 18-19 September 2001 in Bangkok. The conference is being organized by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with ESCAP, ILO, UNDCP and UNAIDS, and the Asian Business Coalition on AIDS. (United Nations Information Services, 17 Sep. 2001)

Burmese forced labour in the spotlight: United Nations officials have gone to Burma to assess efforts by the military government to end the use of forced labour. The UN's International Labour Organisation said its team had been guaranteed freedom of access during its three-week stay, and that witnesses who gave evidence would be protected. (Larry Jagan, BBC News, 17 Sep. 2001)

Child Labour in Shanghai: Where is the Union? This was the question posed in Chinese newspapers, including the People’s Daily, after yet another shocking case of illegally long working hours, pittance wages and child labour came to light. This time, the factory involved was not located in some remote mountain county far away from labour bureau inspectors and newspaper reporters. It was operating in arguably China’s most modern and outward-looking city -- Shanghai. The Japanese-owned Shanghai Jingtiao Knitting Company employs over 400 workers, almost all of whom are under the age of 18. According to the Shanghai Municipal Labour and Social Security Bureau, some of these young workers had not even reached the age on 16 and were therefore illegally employed child labourers. (China Labour Bulletin, 12 Sep. 2001)

Official Commentary Criticises ACFTU [China]: Arguments over the effectiveness and role of the All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) are increasingly finding copy in the mainland media. The following is a translation of an angry commentary published in the online edition of the People’s Daily, a mouthpiece of the Chinese government. The article was published after a case of indentured labour was reported in Shanghai. (China Labour Bulletin, 12 Sep. 2001)

New Nike panel to tackle company's factory issues: Nike, criticized for working conditions at its factories outside the United States, will create a committee to oversee the company's labor, environmental and diversity policies. (Bloomberg News, in Seattle Times, 11 Sep. 2001)

Nike Board of Directors and CEO Philip H. Knight create corporate responsibility committee: Nike announced that the Board of Directors unanimously approved the creation of a corporate responsibility committee during its recent meeting. The new committee will be responsible for reviewing, reporting and making recommendations to the full Board of Directors regarding the company's business strategy and practices and their alignment with corporate responsibility commitments. The committee will review the company's efforts in the area of labor compliance initiatives, environmental practices, community affairs programs, human resources, diversity issues and philanthropic efforts. (Nike, 10 Sep. 2001)

Teck-Cominco admits errors over toxic thallium [Canada]: Teck-Cominco Ltd. accepted responsibility last week and admitted its has some image rebuilding to do after its errors allowed workers to be exposed to toxic thallium, which was also allowed to enter a river at its Trail, British Columbia, lead smelter. (Reuters, 10 Sep. 2001) 

Unocal closer to trial over human rights violations: California Superior Court Judge Victoria Chaney yesterday rejected Unocal Corp's bid to dismiss claims that it facilitated and abetted human rights abuses on its Yadana Pipeline project in Burma. (Pravit Rojanaphruk, Burmanet, 8 Sep. 2001)

McMahon throws in with workers: Kevin McMahon will stage an understated but committed protest when he throws the hammer Friday at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia...''It took me 13 years to earn this uniform, and I'd like to be proud of it,'' McMahon says. ''How do I know it wasn't made in a sweatshop? I don't feel proud when I'm contributing to a system that exploits the poor.''...McMahon...has researched the issue this summer and wants companies such as Nike, Adidas and Reebok to improve disclosure of factory locations, restitution for past abuses and institution of workers' rights including formation of unions. (Dick Patrick, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2001)

Every reason to link trade with labour standard: Sir, Professor Jagdish Bhagwati has done a disservice to the trade and labour debate with his article "Break the link between trade and labour" (August 29). He has also done a disservice to millions of exploited sweatshop workers with his polemic, based as it is on several fallacies and a misrepresentation of the position of those who advocate a positive link between trade and labour standards. (letter to editor from Bill Jordan, General Secretary, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, in Financial Times, 7 Sep. 2001)

Inquiry into Corporate Behaviour in the Americas final report: Another World is Possible: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Corporate Conduct in the Americas (Commission of Inquiry into Corporate Conduct in the Americas, 6 Sep. 2001)

Nineteen Los Angeles Garment Workers From Six Different Sweatshops Sue "Forever 21" [USA]: Nineteen garment workers, represented by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC), announce the filing of a lawsuit against multi-million dollar retailer “Forever 21.” [alleging workers in Los Angeles factories producing garments for "Forever 21" typically worked six days a week, nine to twelve hours a day, and were denied minimum wage and overtime] (Asian Pacific American Legal Center, 6 Sep. 2001)

China: Fighting To Organize - Outrage at the sight of former managers looting assets at state-owned factories is providing a breeding ground for organized labour in China. A worried Beijing is battling its elusive leaders every step of the way (Jiang Xueqin, Far Eastern Economic Review, 6 Sep. 2001)

Companies Tell of Successful Transformation: Speakers from Sanlam and Eskom report progress towards promoting diversity and combating discrimination [panel discussion - U.N. World Conference Against Racism]: The speakers were handpicked to describe how their companies and organisations have succeeded in the struggle for gender and race equality in the workplace. Their performances were polished if lengthy case studies of how businesses can change to reflect the demographics in SA [South Africa] and Sweden, as well as nondiscrimination amid British trade unions...Despite these good intentions, Friday's presentations were met with waves of disbelief from the floor. (Business Day [Johannesburg], 5 Sep. 2001)

Inadequate OSHA [U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration] Standard for Hazardous Metal Places Tens of Thousands of Workers in Danger: Agency Must Act Now to Prevent Further Deaths from Beryllium Exposure, Public Citizen, PACE Say - The government should immediately lower workers’ exposure to beryllium, Public Citizen and the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers International Union (PACE) said today in a petition filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), because the metal, commonly used in the manufacture of sporting goods, dental equipment and airplane parts, is directly linked to a fatal lung disease. (Public Citizen, 4 Sep. 2001)

It's the Real Thing: Murder - Union activity at...Colombian worksites, including several run by American companies, has been greeted with terror. (Aram Roston, The Nation, 3 Sep. 2001)

Governor Pataki Signs New Anti-sweatshop Legislation [state of New York]: Allows Boards of Education to Consider Treatment of Workers When Purchasing Apparel: In honor of Labor Day, Governor George E. Pataki today announced that he has signed into law a measure that will further strengthen New York's ongoing battle against sweatshops and unfair labor practices. The new law will enable boards of education across the State to consider labor standards and working conditions including the illegal use of child labor when purchasing school uniform apparel. (Office of New York Governor George Pataki, 3 Sep. 2001)

We must put people before profits:...the exploitation and atrocities that visited this nation a century are now getting a new life a continent away, fueled by unregulated globalization. (John J. Sweeney, President of the AFL-CIO, in The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2001)

Swiss business and human rights: Confrontations and partnerships with NGOs [refers to Nestlé, Novartis, UBS, Credit Suisse, ABB, Coop, Migros, Switcher, Veillon] (Antoine Mach, study commissioned by Antenna International, Sep. 2001) note: scroll down on the linked page - this report appears under the "Documents" sub-heading for downloading in English or French

Campaign to support the Free Trade Zone Workers Union of Sri Lanka - Freedom of Association in Sri Lanka: At a Critical Juncture - Freedom of association (FoA) and the right of workers to organise in the Free Trade Zones of Sri Lanka is currently at a critical juncture. (Clean Clothes Campaign, Sep. 2001)

How the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Undermine Democracy and Erode Human Rights: Five Case Studies - Mexico | Africa | Brazil | Colombia | Haiti (Global Exchange, Sep. 2001)

Coke Abuse in Colombia: Coca-Cola and its associates are responsible for “the systematic intimidation, kidnapping, detention and murder” of union members working at the company’s Colombia bottling plants, charges a labor coalition in a July lawsuit. (Charlie Cray, Multinational Monitor, Sep. 2001)

Against the Workers: How IMF and World Bank Policies Undermine Labor Power and Rights (Vincent Lloyd and Robert Weissman, Multinational Monitor, Sep. 2001)

Discussing key elements of monitoring and verification:...This paper brings together those ideas on the possible key elements that need to be a part of an effective monitoring and verification system which ultimately serves to improve workplace conditions and facilitate the empowerment of workers. (Nina Ascoly and Ineke Zeldenrust, SOMO-Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations, Sep. 2001)

The sad figures of employment generated by plantation companies: One of the most commonly used arguments by those promoting large scale monoculture tree plantations is that they generate employment. As we will see from the following examples, such arguments are false. (WRM Bulletin, World Rainforest Movement, Sep. 2001)

Freeport to appeal Jakarta court ruling soon: Mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia said yesterday it would soon appeal an Indonesian court ruling which found it gave false information to parliament over a fatal accident at a mining site last year. (Reuters, 31 Aug. 2001) 

Court acquits labor activist of strike charges [Indonesia]: The Tangerang District Court delivered an important verdict on Thursday as it acquitted labor activist Ngadinah from all charges made against her. Ngadinah, 29, an employee of PT. Panarub, a company that produces Adidas shoes, was tried for allegedly provoking her fellow workers to stage a massive strike last September in a demand for better wages. (Jakarta Post, 30 Aug. 2001)

Burmese workers suing Unocal in Los Angeles will have their day in court: Claims that Unocal Knowingly Benefited from Rights Abuses to be Heard in Superior Court (International Labor Rights Fund, 30 Aug. 2001)

Letter from Lawyers Committee for Human Rights to Chinese Government regarding the continuing imprisonment of Liu Jingsheng, a former worker at the Tongyi Chemical Plant in China [Mr. Liu is serving a 15 year sentence of imprisonment in Beijing for his activities promoting workers' rights, and seeking to found a free trade union. Lawyers Committee is calling for his immediate and unconditional release.] (Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, 30 Aug. 2001)

Teck-Cominco probes contamination at Trail plant: Teck-Cominco Ltd. is trying to determine how 65 workers at its Trail, British Columbia, lead smelter were contaminated with thallium, a toxic metal linked to nerve damage, the company said this week [Canada] (Reuters, 30 Aug. 2001)

Trade unions say NO to racism and xenophobia (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions [ICFTU], 28 Aug. 2001):

Death by overwork: As pressure intensifies in our working lives, scientists are discovering that stress not only triggers illnesses but may be a killer in its own right...The masters of the work ethic — the Japanese — are in no doubt that workrelated stress is a killer. Their language even has a name for it — karoshi, which means death by overwork. Most of its estimated 10,000 victims a year die from heart failure; a few are driven to suicide. The phenomenon of karoshi is sufficiently recognised to appear routinely on death certificates; families of victims have filed hundreds of claims for compensation. Many succeed, although no company has yet been successfully prosecuted for working an employee to death. (Anjana Ahuja, Times [London], 28 Aug. 2001)

Workers tests show they have 27 times the dangerous level of toxic thallium [Canada]: Carpenters and boilermakers who were unknowingly working on a toxic job site have been found with levels of poisonous thallium up to 27 times what's considered dangerous. (Terri Theodore, Canadian Press, in The Province [Vancouver], 28 Aug. 2001) 

Companies Consider Financial Implications of HIV/AIDS: At a conference held in Cape Town on Friday to discuss the financial implications of HIV/AIDS, South Africa's leading mining companies said they were offering treatment packages as an incentive for employees to go for testing. (UN Integrated Regional Information Network, 27 Aug. 2001)

Environmental Racism Shifts the Costs of Industry to the Poor: Environmental racism affects individuals, groups or communities differentially, based on race or colour. It combines with public policies and industry practices to provide benefits for corporations, while shifting the costs to people of colour. It influences local land use, the enforcement of environmental regulations, the siting of industry and the areas where people of colour live, work and play...Environmental racism manifests itself in the sub-standard treatment of workers. Thousands of farm workers and their families are exposed to dangerous pesticides on the job and in labour camps. These workers endure sub-standard wages and working conditions. But environmental racism also extends to the exploitative work environment of garment district sweatshops, the microelectronic industry and extraction industries. A disproportionately large share of the workers who suffer under sub-standard occupational and safety conditions are immigrants, women and people of colour. [article extracted from paper prepared for the World Conference on Racism and Public Policy in Durban from September 3-5, sponsored by United Nations Research Institute for Social Development] (Robert D Bullard [Director of the Environmental Justice Resource Centre at Clark Atlanta University in the USA], Mail & Guardian [Johannesburg], 24 Aug. 2001)

Thousands of Workers Strike at Shenzhen [China]: ...thousands of workers convened at an intersection outside the Buji Pass, demanding that the relevant authority urge the [toy] factory to resolve the issue of mistreatment of the workers. (The Crystal News of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, 23 Aug. 2001, on website of China Labor Watch)

ILO studies find worsening labour conditions in Ukraine – A decade after their country gained independence, tens of millions of Ukrainians continue to work without pay, lack access to adequate health coverage and avoid seeking help from government agencies when faced by economic or social crises, according to a pair of new surveys by the International Labour Organization. (United Nations Newservice, 23 Aug. 2001)

Two China mine accidents kill 11 people, adding to workplace death toll - Two mine accidents have killed 11 people, officials said Thursday, adding to a series of workplace deaths that have prompted a high-level campaign to improve industrial safety. (Associated Press, in Montreal Gazette, 23 Aug. 2001)

Workers' Rights Suffering as China Goes Capitalist (Erik Eckholm, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2001)

Union leaders face death threats in Guatemala: Choishin and Cimatextiles - Liz Claiborne supply factories in Guatemala (Maquila Solidarity Network, 22 Aug. 2001)

Hope dies for Ukraine miners: The number killed in the Ukraine mine disaster has officially risen to 47 after rescuers abandoned hope that 10 miners still trapped underground would be found alive...Many relatives and miners blamed the disaster on managers' aggressive efforts to accelerate production in recent weeks, although it was known that methane levels in the shaft were high. (BBC News, 22 Aug. 2001)

Take steps to care for needs of special workers [Malaysia]: The announcement by Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn of a new code of practice designed to uplift the dignity of the disabled and those afflicted with HIV in the workplace is heartening. (editorial, The Star [Malaysia], 22 Aug. 2001)

Mexico, California link arms to bring multimillion dollar health care initiatives to help agricultural worker population: Representatives of the Governments of Mexico and California, together with The California Endowment, the state’s largest health foundation, met today in the State Capitol to announce strategies for addressing the critical health care needs of California’s agricultural worker population, saying no group of workers in America faces greater barriers to the basic human right of access to health care services. (The California Endowment, 21 Aug. 2001)

ILO High Level Team to Visit Myanmar: Mission to assess Government actions on eliminating forced labour - The composition of a High Level Team due to visit Myanmar for a three-week period next month to assess Government actions on forced labour was announced today by the International Labour Office (ILO) Director-General Juan Somavia. (International Labour Organization, 21 Aug. 2001)

77 Bodies Found in China Tin Mine: Investigators have pumped out a south China tin mine that flooded and found 77 bodies, but the remains of other miners killed in the accident may still be buried, a government spokeswoman said Tuesday. The July 17 flooding of the mine in the southern Guangxi region was one of the worst disasters this year in China's accident-plagued mining industry. (Associated Press, 21 Aug. 2001)

Labor chief says S.F. workers deserve justice: U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said today investigators from her department's wages and hours division are working with the state to see that back wages are paid to immigrant employees of one of San Francisco's largest garment factories. The immigrants are owed as much as $850,000, having not been paid for four months by Wins of California Inc., which makes clothing for customers that include the U.S. Army and Air Force, Sears, Wal-Mart and Kmart, authorities say. (George Raine, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Aug. 2001)

Big-league caps and labor flaps [USA]: the Worker Rights Consortium...has just issued a report accusing the New Era Cap Company of having an extraordinarily high injury rate at the factory in this blue-collar town, 15 miles south of Buffalo. The report also accuses New Era of seeking to punish the workers by cutting their wages and transferring production to the South because they had voted to join an aggressive new union. (Steven Greenhouse, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2001)

Charges of Clean Air Act violations for not protecting homeless men hired to remove asbestos [USA]: (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 20 Aug. 2001)

Missouri company, former manager indicted on asbestos charges [USA]: the indictment alleges that Barr used Leeds employees who were not trained to remove asbestos. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 20 Aug. 2001)

S.F. garment factory shuts after complaints: Owners say they did not know law, deny owing workers pay since April - A San Francisco garment factory said by federal and state officials to have committed one of Northern California's worst labor violations shut down yesterday after the allegations against the company were revealed. The Chronicle reported yesterday that Wins of California Inc., which has supplied clothing to the U.S. Army and Air Force, Sears, J.C. Penney and Kmart, was being investigated by government authorities for allegedly operating without a license and owing more than $850,000 to workers. (David Lazarus, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Aug. 2001) 

Sweatshops - Serving rich America: A new coalition of U.S. religious, human rights and labor groups is crusading to end cruelty in the global sweatshop operation through which overseas contractors churn out millions of garments bearing top U.S. brand names....Globalized free trade cannot be halted. However, America should require a standard of decency in the manufacture of products that supply the booming U.S. market. We wish the religious-labor coalition success in its effort to educate Americans and reduce sweatshop cruelty. (editorial, Charleston Gazette [USA], 16 Aug. 2001)

Toil and Trouble: Slavery is on the rise in China as the number of poor migrants increases. Beijing appears unwilling and unable to prevent it (Bruce Gilley, Far Eastern Economic Review, 16 Aug. 2001)

Critics accuse Taiwan of operating sweatshops:... a recent labor dispute at a Taiwanese-owned textile factory in impoverished Nicaragua has cast a spotlight on what U.S. activists say is Taiwan's least admired export: labor rights abuses. (Andrew Perrin, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Aug. 2001) 

Challenge to Bring Health Care to All: SA [South Africa] employers could collectively be facing a potential R30bn medical aid bill if they are to meet employment-equity requirements and to satisfy growing pressure from labour unions for medical-aid cover across the workforce. (Business Day [Johannesburg], 15 Aug. 2001)

Subcommission discusses plans for Social Forum: The [United Nations] Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights this afternoon discussed preparations for its Social Forum with a group of high-level experts debating what should be the main topics of the meeting which is tentatively scheduled for next year. Jose Bengoa, a Subcommission Expert and the Special Rapporteur for the Social Forum, explained that the Commission on Human Rights this year had authorized the Subcommission to hold a Social Forum next year, which, among other objectives, would focus on globalization, free trade, and threats to poor countries in the labour markets. (United Nations, 13 Aug. 2001)

Still stitching for export, but now it pays [a new all-female worker-owned sewing cooperative - or maquila - in Nicaragua with good labor conditions that is emerging as a model] (Catherine Elton, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2001) 

Gap sweatshops challenged by persistent activists (Mike Rhodes, Fresno Labor/Community Alliance, 12 Aug. 2001)

Ex-UNEP [United Nations Environment Programme] official pushes business solutions to environment problems: "We believe that economic sustainability and profitability are possible, if you initially invest to create environmentally sound products," [Noel] Brown said in an interview with The Japan Times in Tokyo.  He also said that the degraded environment would eventually lead to low productivity by harming workers' health. (Hiroko Nakata, Japan Times, 11 Aug. 2001)

Mirpur stampede: Probe bodies Formed [Dhaka, Bangladesh] - The Dhaka district administration and the fire service authorities yesterday formed two committees to investigate the incident that left 18 garments employees killed and more than 50 injured at Mirpur in the city on Wednesday. (Daily Star [Bangladesh], 10 Aug. 2001)

18 killed at garment unit as fire alarm sparks stampede [Dhaka, Bangladesh]: At least 18 garment workers including 14 females were killed and 50 injured in a stampede following a fire alarm at an eight-storey building housing four garment factories at Mirpur in the city yesterday morning. (Daily Star [Bangladesh], 9 Aug. 2001)

Business accused of sweatshop practices: A Thai labor leader and 10 New York religious and labor activists made a surprise visit to the Mount Vernon headquarters of Michael Anthony Jewelers Inc. yesterday to appeal for better working conditions and union representation at a Bangkok factory that makes some of the company's gold and silver jewelry. (Jonann Brady, Journal News [White Plains, New York], 9 Aug. 2001)

Sweatshop Protest vs. 3 Chains [New York City]: Blaming retailers for sweatshop conditions and promising to punish the wicked among them, the garment workers union escalated its fight in the city yesterday. More than 400 garment workers marched down lower Broadway in the sweltering heat, chanting "No more sweatshops" as SoHo shopkeepers scurried curbside to see the spectacle. The union targeted Ann Taylor, Eddie Bauer and Gap Inc.'s Banana Republic chain, accusing each retailer of fostering oppressive labor conditions in the manufacturing of their clothing. (Bob Port, Daily News [New York], 8 Aug. 2001)

First-of-its-kind international anti-sweatshop coalition launches new campaign demanding retailer responsibility for global sweatshop crisis: A first-of-its-kind international anti-sweatshop coalition - comprised of labor organizations, religious leaders and civil rights groups from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Nicaragua, Hong Kong, Guatemala, Honduras and the Dominican Republic - today announced the launch of a major new campaign to hold retailers responsible for the conditions under which the clothing they sell is produced. (UNITE [Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees], 7 Aug. 2001)

Report Issued on Efforts to Improve Apparel Factory Conditions in Central America: The Independent Monitoring Working Group (IMWG) released a report today on the history and development of independent factory monitoring initiatives in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. (press release, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, 6 Aug. 2001)

Anglo [AngloGold] in the Dark On AIDS Deaths: CEO says HIV positivity is a subterranean syndrome' and not easy to track among miners [South Africa] (Pat Sidley, Business Day [Johannesburg], 1 Aug. 2001)

Landslide in China Quarry Kills 15: The landslide added to a rapidly mounting death toll in Chinese industrial accidents this year. Officials have promised repeatedly to improve workplace safety, prompted by a series of explosions and other catastrophes in mines, schools and factories. (Associated Press, 1 Aug. 2001)

SA8000: Can Commercial Auditing Promote Worker Rights?...Given how closely it is modeled on internationally recognized rights and standards of the ILO and UN, the SA8000 standard has a great deal of legitimacy in both the North and South. However, the commercial social auditing model used to verify compliance with that standard has come under a great deal of criticism. (Codes Memo: Number 8, Maquila Solidarity Network, Aug. 2001)

How Responsible Is WRAP? The Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production Certification Program (WRAP) has apparently certified 23 factories (including factories in US, Mexico and Honduras), and has received applications for certification from 370 others. However, information on certified factories and their locations appears not to be publicly available. (Codes Memo: Number 8, Maquila Solidarity Network, Aug. 2001)

A Public Role for the Private Sector: Industry Self-Regulation in a Global Economy: Over the past decade, a growing number of corporations have adopted policies of industry self-regulation such as corporate codes of conduct, social and environmental standards, and auditing and monitoring systems. A Public Role for the Private Sector is the first book to explore this self-regulation phenomenon on an international level across three different policy issues—environment, labor, and information privacy. (Virginia Haufler, Aug. 2001)

A COVERCO Special Report: Liz Claiborne International's Standards of Engagement and the Unionization of Two Supplier Factories in Guatemala (COVERCO, Aug. 2001)

UK Government hosts meeting to discuss how to tackle slave labour: On the 25 July 2001, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) hosted a workshop to discuss working practices in cocoa production in West Africa. (Anti-Slavery International, 31 July 2001)

Racism in the Workplace: In an increasingly multicultural U.S., harassment of minorities is on the rise (Aaron Bernstein, Business Week, 30 July 2001)

Democracy returns to Indonesia's workers (Satya Sivaraman, Dawn [Karachi, Pakistan], 30 July 2001)

China Tin Mine Accident Traps 200: Floodwaters quickly filled a tin mine in south China, trapping more than 200 miners below ground, a state-run newspaper said Monday. (Associated Press, in Guardian [UK], 30 July 2001)

Garment industry plagued by poor environment, low wages: A recent study conducted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has exposed the unhealthy and polluted working environment in the garments sector. The study also recommended that the ministry impose a minimum investment ceiling of Dh7 million in order to obtain a licence for a garment factory to ensure owners create a healthy working environment.  (Saifur Rahman, Gulf News [United Arab Emirates], 29 July 2001)

Cameroon: New international report points to labour violations - Restrictions on the right to organise, regular interference by the government in trade union activities, blatant discrimination based on gender and ethnicity, and widespread use of forced labour in prison. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions [ICFTU], 25 July 2001) 

More than 300 firms sign up for UN Global Compact: Though it so far has little to show for its efforts, participating firms are to post their techniques for dealing with the many labor, human rights and environmental challenges spawned by globalization on the program's Web site in October.  Doyle [U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Michael Doyle] acknowledged the program's form was in part dictated by a recognition that the corporate world was unwilling to accept binding global standards on corporate governance.  But environmental and human rights groups that have been participating in the program from the start said they were nonetheless underwhelmed by the Global Compact's achievements to date.  "Viewing the program solely as a learning experience represents a wasted opportunity in assuring corporate responsibility," said Arvind Ganesan, the Washington-based director of business and human rights programs for Human Rights Watch. "The progress we expected on moving beyond just a learning forum hasn't occurred yet."  Ganesan of Human Rights Watch said that since the program had issued guidelines on how businesses should behave, it should at least try to assure the guidelines were being applied, for example by procuring goods only from responsible companies.  (Irwin Arieff, Reuters, 27 July 2001)

Gold Fields Counts the Costs of AIDS: Gold Fields has released a report on the extent of the HIV/Aids pandemic among its South African workforce that manages quite literally to count the cost of the killer disease: it affects one in four of its 48000-strong labour complement.  The study reveals a wealth of facts and figures about the disease and also cuts to the quick of the issue for business -- what the effect will be on the bottom line.  (Stewart Bailey, Mail & Guardian [Johannesburg], 27 July 2001)

CHEMICAL SAFETY: Documents Available Free on Internet - The World Health Organization yesterday announced that thousands of chemical safety documents are now available free at the Web site of the International Program on Chemical Safety, a joint effort of the WHO, the International Labor Organization and the UN Environment Program. (UN Wire, 26 July 2001)

Coal mine explosion toll expected to rise: The small private mine was closed by the local administration on June 15 because it failed to meet safety standards.  However, the mine opened again on July 15 without approval from the local government.  Hui [Hui Liangyu, secretary of the Jiangsu provincial committee of the Communist Party of China] condemned red tape and bureaucracy in the management of work safety and demanded a thorough inspection of work safety conditions in the province.  Those responsible for safety-related accidents on the job will be severely punished to ensure that the State's work safety laws are followed, he said. (China Daily [Beijing], 25 July 2001)

Racism Rife On Mpumalanga Farms, Says Premier: Attacks on farmers and the abuse of farm workers is putting Mpumalanga's agricultural sector at risk, warned provincial premier Ndaweni Mahlangu on Tuesday....A provincial government committee had conducted its own study into conflict on farms, he said, and recommended that workers be made aware of labour rights and that they be registered for workman's compensation [South Africa]. (Sharon Hammond, African Eye News Service [Nelspruit, South Africa], 24 July 2001)

China Coal Mine Explosion Kills 16: An explosion in a coal mine that reopened illegally after being closed for safety reasons killed at least 16 miners, state media and a local official said Monday....Police have detained the mine owner.  (Associated Press, 23 July 2001)

Dole Food's labor history is bumpy: There has been a series of legal actions involving the company's workers. (Andy Furillo, Sacramento Bee [Sacramento, California], 22 July 2001)

Guatemalan maquila workers attacked! Union supporters placed under siege in garment factories that produce for Liz Claiborne; Will Liz Claiborne and the Guatemalan Government take appropriate action? (US/LEAP - U.S. Labor Education in the Americas Project, 21 July 2001)

Business as usual: Mexico's president ignores old-style labor repression - When workers at the Kuk Dong assembly plant went on strike earlier this year, the result was business as usual -- state police stormed the factory to break the strike, and the company fired hundreds of workers....By accepting the status quo, the Fox administration is drawing growing protests from Mexican reformers, U.S. activists and congressional Democrats that Mexico is violating internationally recognized labor rights. (Wendy Patterson, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 July 2001)

European Commission initiatives, 18 July 2001:

An Online Look: Inside Nike's Contract Factories [12-minute online video tour of one of Nike's contract factories in Vietnam] (Nike)

Washington State/Alaska company sentenced in asbestos case: Great Pacific Seafood and Stiles pleaded guilty to having five of its employees directly or indirectly exposed to asbestos fibers without the proper training, equipment or protective clothing. The hazardous nature of abatement was never disclosed to two of the employees. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 12 July 2001)

Sunday morning political talk shows ignore corporate power issues [USA] - The study found that: Topics related to corporate power -- the environment, corporate crime, labor, mergers, consumer rights, corporate welfare, national health care, free trade agreements, redlining, blockbusting, multinational capital flight, tort reform, renewable energy, the commercialization of children, etc. -- make up less than 4% of the shows’ discussion topics...Corporate influence over the networks, the shows and the guests in part explains the remarkable omission of issues related to corporate power. Multinational conglomerates own the networks, major corporations sponsor specific shows, businesses regularly pay celebrity journalist lecture fees, and massive corporations fund the campaigns of the guest newsmakers. (Essential Information, 12 July 2001)

Protection for 1,3 billion agricultural workers, at long last...[adoption of the International Convention on Health and Safety in Agriculture] (Human.Rights@Work [A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities], 9 July 2001)

Singled out for rights abuses: Belarus, Colombia, Ethiopia, Burma, and Venezuela were singled out by the Conference [June 2001 International Labour Conference] Committee on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, for serious infringement of Convention 87 on freedom of association, while Sudan was pointed at for continued failure to implement Convention 29 on forced labour. (Human.Rights@Work [A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities], 9 July 2001)

Sweat & Tears [in New York City]: Daily News Investigation (Bob Port, New York Daily News, 8-11 July 2001)

Curbing the abuses of global capitalism - Campaigners are learning to squeeze concessions from companies by hitting them where they hurt: their brands [refers to the different responses of Grand Marnier and Rémy-Cointreau to criticism of their labour practices in Haiti] (Steve Tibbett, senior campaigner for War on Want, in The Observer [UK], 8 July 2001)

Senate to Investigate Employment Policies of Oil Companies: Disturbed by the increasing cry of marginalisation and victimization of Nigerians in the employment policies of major oil companies in the country, the Senate is to investigate such complaints. (This Day [Nigeria], 7 July 2001)

Letter to Mexican President Fox [from Canadian religious, labour and NGO leaders - urging him to ensure workers' rights are respected at Nike's Kuk Dong supply factory. [Mexico] (5 July 2001)

Burma to Cooperate With Forced-Labor Probe: Seeking to stem a flood of allegations about the widespread use of forced labor, Burma's government is vowing to cooperate fully with international investigators even as it continues to defend its record on workers' rights. (Thomas Crampton, International Herald Tribune, 4 July 2001) 

ARESE Launches New European Sustainability Index: ARESE, a Paris-based firm that conducts research on corporate social, environmental and sustainability performance, recently announced the introduction of the first of a series of new indexes.  The first index, the ASPI Eurozone, will track the financial performance of companies in the Eurozone that are leaders in sustainability.  ARESE's ratings for corporate sustainability performance are based on five criteria: community and international civil society; corporate governance; customers and suppliers; health, safety and the environment; and human resources and international labor standards. (Mark Thomsen, SocialFunds.com, 3 July 2001)

Wary Allies [concerning the pros and cons of using corporate codes of conduct to promote labour rights; one concern being "a rush to corporate codes of conduct would allow powerful companies to avoid union organizing, enforceable collective agreements, and government regulation"] (Lance Compa, American Prospect, 2-16 July 2001)

The Global Alternative [What are the elements of a transnational New Deal, and how do we bring one about? The emerging global social-democratic alternative involves a "grand bargain" between the two wings of the opposition: The developed world would get protection for its social standards, and the developing world would receive the flexibility and capital investment it needs for growth.] (Jeff Faux, American Prospect, 2-16 July 2001)

The NGO-Industrial Complex: A new global activism is shaming the world's top companies into enacting codes of conduct and opening their Third World factories for inspection. But before you run a victory lap in your new sweatshop-free sneakers, ask yourself: Do these voluntary arrangements truly help workers and the environment, or do they merely weaken local governments while adding more green to the corporate bottom line? (Gary Gereffi [Professor of sociology and Director of the Markets and Management Studies Program at Duke University], Ronie Garcia-Johnson [Assistant Professor of environmental policy at Duke University], Erika Sasser [Visiting Assistant Professor at the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University], in Foreign Policy, July-Aug. 2001)

"Selling our People": Summary report on garment production in Lesotho (Clean Clothes Campaign, July 2001)