Distribution Network
Content
The organizers of the 2008 Olympic Games have been urged to consider
how they can improve the conditions of workers supplying goods and
services for the event.
The Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee (BOCOG) has issued a report called No medal for Olympics on labour rights, confirming widespread forced excessive overtime, the use of under-age workers, underpayment of employees, breaches of health and safety regulations, dubious hiring practices, absence of due maternity leave and a lack of safe means for workers to report grievances.
However, BOCOG is ignoring the problems, says Playfair 2008, a campaign run by the International Trade Union Confederation, the International Textile, Leather and Garment Workers’ Federation, the Clean Clothes Campaign and their affiliates and partners.
Playfair 2008 criticizes the BOCOG investigation for failing to mention compensation or redress for underpaid workers and is disappointed that the International Olympic Committee has made no comment.
The campaigners want the organizers to act to improve working conditions at the offending factories and involve labour support groups and other stakeholders, instead of operating a cut-and-run policy. In particular, they regret that BOCOG has cut ties with one of the suppliers, Lekit Stationery, instead of working with it to find a remedy.
The first steps, says Playfair 2008, are to set up confidential channels for workers to report violations and to persuade the companies to provide training and information on workers’ rights. It believes the International Olympic Committee should take the lead.
Playfair 2008 says: ‘Sustainable improvements across global supply chains will only be achievable if workers can freely represent their own interests, through organizations of their own choice, that is, through independent trade unions. Failure to recognize and respect the rights to freedom of association and to collective bargaining, widely recognized as enabling rights, will mean that future violations will inevitably occur.’
The Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee (BOCOG) has issued a report called No medal for Olympics on labour rights, confirming widespread forced excessive overtime, the use of under-age workers, underpayment of employees, breaches of health and safety regulations, dubious hiring practices, absence of due maternity leave and a lack of safe means for workers to report grievances.
However, BOCOG is ignoring the problems, says Playfair 2008, a campaign run by the International Trade Union Confederation, the International Textile, Leather and Garment Workers’ Federation, the Clean Clothes Campaign and their affiliates and partners.
Playfair 2008 criticizes the BOCOG investigation for failing to mention compensation or redress for underpaid workers and is disappointed that the International Olympic Committee has made no comment.
The campaigners want the organizers to act to improve working conditions at the offending factories and involve labour support groups and other stakeholders, instead of operating a cut-and-run policy. In particular, they regret that BOCOG has cut ties with one of the suppliers, Lekit Stationery, instead of working with it to find a remedy.
The first steps, says Playfair 2008, are to set up confidential channels for workers to report violations and to persuade the companies to provide training and information on workers’ rights. It believes the International Olympic Committee should take the lead.
Playfair 2008 says: ‘Sustainable improvements across global supply chains will only be achievable if workers can freely represent their own interests, through organizations of their own choice, that is, through independent trade unions. Failure to recognize and respect the rights to freedom of association and to collective bargaining, widely recognized as enabling rights, will mean that future violations will inevitably occur.’
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