Inbrief

Coca-Cola is to allow an independent investigation into its labour relations in Colombia, where it has been dogged by allegations of complicity in human rights abuses connected with its bottling operations, which employ 2000 people. The investigation, to be conducted by the International Labour Organization, was given the go-ahead after extensive talks between the company and the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations. Most allegations concern assaults on union leaders, which Coca-Cola says result from general political violence in the country, not company activities.