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Corespondence between the Clean Clothes Campaign and the FIFA
9th of April 2002
From: Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC)
To: FIFA Headquarters
Mr. Joseph S. Blatter, President
New evidence for inhuman labour conditions -
a proposal for a new meeting
Dear Mr. Blatter
First of all, may we congratulate you on being nominated
by the International League of Humanists (ILH) as "International
Humanist of the Year" for your work towards peace between
people. Today we address this letter to you on the related subject
of human rights and labour conditions in the garment and sportswear
industry. In the past the Clean Clothes Campaign has been in contact
with the ISL, the former FIFA marketing organisation, about this
subject (see enclosed letter). We have been in contact by telephone
with the FIFA Communications Department (Ms Frei, in absence of
Mr Coopers), but we think that you, the FIFA President, is now
the appropriate contact. In view of the coming World Cup 2002
in Korea and Japan, the international Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC)
would like to take issues forward and suggests a new meeting with
you as president of FIFA and with Mr Patrick Magyar, Chief Executive
of FIFA Marketing AG as the organisation taken over the activities
of the ISL in order to exchange information and be updated on
progress on the implementation of social standards. There are
many reasons why we feel a meeting is important and the issues
concerned should become a "Chefsache", a major issue
for the FIFA Presidency. We therefore would like to propose a
meeting with a delegation of the international CCC at your office
in Zurich in May (between the 6 and the 18 of May 2002). Please
let us shortly explain.
The CCC appreciates FIFA's efforts against child
labour in several countries, as well as the fact that the contractual
agreements with licensed companies include the fundamental labours'
rights (according to the ILO decision from 1998). We are also
aware of and cooperate with other related initiatives such as
the Global March against Child Labour . Through the German Clean
Clothes Campaign we are involved in the Sportswear Congress in
Cologne in May 2002. We welcome your efforts to collaborate with
International Organisations such as ILO, UNICEF and WFSGI. Negotiations
in 1998 an 1999 with the international trade union movement brought
some improvements in respect to labour standards. However, today
we consider that neither FIFA nor its sponsors or licensees are
acting fully responsible. The actual contractual agreements with
licensed companies are not in accordance with the Clean Clothes
Campaign-model code in reation to living wage, working hours (60
hours per week - can be exceeded), and the principles of independent
verification (local participation, educational aspects, compliance
mechanism, transparency).
Unfortunately, we did not get satisfactory information
from FIFA on the implementation of social standards in factories
producing for FIFA licensees or FIFA sponsors. We are deeply concerned
under which labour conditions sportswear articles have been manufactured
for the World Cup 2002 by the sponsors and licensees of FIFA.
As a matter of fact, we received many new reports of inhuman working
conditions in the sportswear industry. We would like to refer
you to our website for these reports: www.cleanclothes.org. We
are therefore convinced that much more could be done by FIFA and
by the sporting goods companies. Therefore we would like to ask
FIFA the following:
- To implement a FIFA Code which is in complete accordance
with the Clean Clothes campaign model code and to declare
that code binding in all contracts with FIFA licensees and
sponsors.
- To take full responsibility for the labour conditions at
all factories where FIFA licensed goods are manufactured.
- To agree on a independent monitoring and verification system.
There have been several contacts between the Clean
Clothes Campaign and Mr. Prochaska from the former FIFA Marketing
Agency ISL (International Sports and Leisure). We appreciated
the commitment of ISL, made in their letter from February 14 2001
to the Clean Clothes Campaign, to apply the labour standards not
only when ISL-licensed products are concerned, but in general.
Which means in effect that FIFA partners should fully comply with
the relevant labour standards. However, since then the former
cases remain unresolved, and new cases on labour abuses have been
documented. For example concerning the World Cup 2002 Partner
Adidas and the FIFA licensee Nike. (For more information see the
report: "we are no machines" on the Clean Clothes Campaign
website.) We asked the ISL to give evidence before the start of
the 2002 World Cup, that all FIFA licensed articles were produced
in accordance with international acknowledged labour standards.
So far we have been disappointed. Given the gravity of our aim
and the fact, that the FIFA has taken over the role of the ISL
we would appreciate to discuss these issues with you, Mr. Blatter,
as FIFA President.
The international Clean Clothes Campaign (a coalition
of more than 250 organisations in 10 European countries) sees
it as its duty, to regularly inform the public on labour conditions
in the garment and sportswear industry and the commitment and
behaviour of companies. Because of the World Cup 2002 related
business activities, FIFA is approached as any other company to
take responsibility for the implementation and independent verification
of labour standards. As an organisation with the slogan "Fair
Play" on its banner, we feel FIFA should take on a special
responsibility - and set an example with respecting labour rights
and social standards.
Millions and millions of people will buy products
linked with the World Cup 2002. Therefore the Clean Clothes Campaign
is going to distribute information on labour conditions in the
sportswear industry during the 2002 World Cup. But the Clean Clothes
Campaign has no interest in getting involved in a negative public
campaign against FIFA. Therefore we would like to propose a meeting.
A delegation of the international Clean Clothes Campaign would
be willing to visit you at the FIFA Headquarters and to explain
to you what we expect from FIFA, and what the Clean Clothes Campaign
understands under implementation of a complete code of conduct
and independent monitoring and verification of this code of conduct.
We would like FIFA to work with their licensees
and sponsors in order that these companies would work with international
unions and human rights organisations to establish a monitoring
and verification program that includes verification of factory
monitoring by credible organisations which are independent of
(i.e. not selected by) the company.
Switzerland has a special position within FIFA -
throughout the Headquarters and the Swiss presidency. The Swiss
Clean Clothes Campaign therefore plans to become active too, and
has chosen a positive approach to contact the FIFA. We think that
campaigning for social issues can enrich the World Cup. Therefore
ideas and propositions for FIFA will be collected from the public.
This input will show which improvements in labour conditions are
the most important to achieve before the next European Football
Championship. The goal is to collect at least 2002 propositions
towards the FIFA by the end of July 2002. Therefore, the Swiss
CCC would appreciate very much to meet with you, Mr. Blatter,
again during August 2002 at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich. We
therefore ask you to set a date to hand over the cards with the
ideas from the public campaign to FIFA.
To organise the journey of the members of the international
CCC-delegation we propose you to suggest a date for our meeting
by the end of this week.
We are looking forward to your answer and to meet
with you.
Yours sincerely
Stefan Indermühle, Esther de Haan,
CCC Switzerland, CCC International Office
Zurich, 16 April 2002
Dear Mr. Indermühle
Thank you for your letter of 9 April addressed to
the FIFA President.
In view of FIFA's commitments to the forthcoming
World Cup and related matters it is unfortunately quite impossible
to have the requested meeting on the points you mention.
As has been pointed out several times in the past
to your organisation and others sharing the same concerns, FIFA
as a sports organisation has as its primary duty the organisation
of world football and cannot be held responsible for the labour
conditions in factories. Despite this, FIFA has again taken the
necessary steps to ensure that footballs used at the FIFA World
Cup will have been produced without child labour (in fact they
have been produced in Tunisia, as in 1998).
Nevertheless, as part of our ongoing sincere efforts
to influence improved conditions as far as reasonably possible
in the production of footballs, we shall pass your letter to our
relevant partners for their comment.
Thank you for understanding.
FIFA
Keith Cooper
Director of Communications
27 April 2002,
Invitation to a public event on FIFA's social
responsibility, Zurich, May 17 2002
Dear Mr. Cooper,
Thank you for your letter dated 16 April 2002. The
Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) is quite surprised and even shocked
to read that FIFA "cannot be held responsible for the labour
conditions in factories". This statement is, in our opinion,
in clear contradiction with the fact that FIFA has drafted a code
of conduct together with international trade unions, back in 1996,
and has included a range of labour standards, including the fundamental
labour rights and additional standards that are part of the WFSGI
model code, in its standard contracts with companies that are
using the FIFA and/or World Cup logo.
The statement of FIFA that it cannot be held responsible
for the labour conditions in factories strongly increases the
CCC's concerns about the implementation of corporate responsibility
obligations within FIFA's business activities. FIFA, via FIFA
Marketing, does have large commercial interests via its contracts
with the sporting goods industry and other sponsors and licensees.
These interests needs to be matched with a corresponding responsibility
for the implementation of the labour rights of the workers in
the sportswear industry.
The Clean Clothes Campaign is aware of the fact
that improving labour conditions is a enormous task that needs
constant improvements and a pro-active approach by both companies
and the FIFA, while including stakeholders like unions and NGO's.
Therefore we would like to ask the following question to FIFA,
while also proposing to discuss the answers in public debate:
- When and how do FIFA and sport goods companies provide
the public with clear and certified information about the
implementation by FIFA sponsors, licensees and manufacturers
of the contractual obligations relating to the labour conditions
in all of the producer countries?
- Will FIFA take measures to sign and fully implement the
FIFA code on Labour Practice at licensees and sponsors that
manufacture products with the FIFA and/or World Cup logo?
- While Pakistan and India are at least relatively open to
independent scrutiny on child labour and working conditions,
independent information on China is very hard or impossible
to get. How does FIFA monitor FIFA sponsored and licensed
products in China and when do you provide independently verified
public information on this?
- What efforts are being made by FIFA to develop an independent
and transparent system of verification, involving trade unions
and civil society (NGOs) in all countries where FIFA-licensed
goods are manufactured?
CCC thinks that it is of great importance that the
question of the FIFA's position on ethical matters should be settled
before the start of the World Cup 2002. CCC therefore invites
FIFA to a public event with a press conference at May 17 2002
to be held in Zurich. We therefore would like to ask you, Mr.
Cooper, to hand over this invitation to Mr. Blatter, President
of FIFA and to Mr. Magyar, Chief Executive of FIFA Marketing AG.
We would be grateful if you could confirm the participation of
Mr. Blatter and / or Mr. Magyar as soon as possible.
We are looking forward to your answer and hope that
previous steps by FIFA to integrate widely-held concerns about
the respect of human rights in sportswear production for its sponsors
and licensees are being taken further rather than forgotten.
Yours sincerely
Stefan Indermühle, CCC Switzerland
Esther de Haan, CCC International Office
Zurich, 29 April 2002
KC/ngu
Labour conditions
Dear Mr. Indermühle
Thank you for your letter of 9 April addressed to
the FIFA President, concerning labour conditions in the production
of sporting goods.
As you may already know, FIFA held a major meeting
last month with the ILO, the WFSGI and representatives of the
sporting goods manufacturers to review the child labour issues
and progress made in the industry.
We are aware that not all aspects of this grave
problem have yet been solved. Nevertheless we are satisfied that
significant progress is being made and that all measures have
been taken for this important work to continue. The delegate of
the ILO confirmed this sentiment in the meeting.
We must however point out, once again, that it is
clearly beyond FIFA's remit to - as demanded in your letter -
"take full responsibility for the labour conditions at all
factories where FIFA licensed goods are manufactured." FIFA
is a sports body and not an organisation responsible for labour
conditions.
Our time is in great demand at present with preparations
for the FIFA World Cup. However, We will follow up this matter
with our specialist partners and ask them to revert to you in
the near future.
Thank you for your understanding.
Yours sincerely
FIFA
Keith Cooper
Director of Communications
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