Nov 2000, Indonesian testimony on labour conditions in adidas factories at

PRESS RELEASE
of the European Clean Clothes Campaigns (Amsterdam, 15 November 2000)

Indonesian testimony on labour conditions in adidas factories at European Parliament Hearing

22 November 2000 Brussels, 9.00-12.30, Altiero Spinelli Building : Room 3G2
Press conference starts directly after the hearing.

Ms. Rainy Hutabarat, representative of the "Urban Community Mission" in Jakarta/Indonesia, will speak on labour conditions at garment and sportsshoe supplier factories of adidas-Salomon in Indonesia at a hearing of the European Parliament (Committee on Development and Cooperation) on 22 November. The company adidas-Salomon is also called upon to send a representative to the hearing, as is Ms. Ratna Saptari, an expert on the labour situation in Indonesia.

The hearing is organized by British Labour MEP Richard Howitt and is a follow-up to the resolution on "Standard setting by European companies in developing countries: towards a Code of Conduct" adopted on 13 January 1999. This resolution aims at the establishment of a new legal basis for a statutory EU framework governing companies operations world-wide. It foresees a model code of conduct, a social label, public hearings and the creation of an independent "European Monitoring and Verification Mechanism" to oversee the implementation of social, environmental and human rights standards of European business abroad.

The European Clean Clothes Campaigns represent over 200 NGOs and trade unions in 10 European countries and have close partnerships with labour related organisations in many regions of the world. The Campaigns welcome this first hearing since it brings to the attention of European Parliamentarians the experiences our Southern partners have of the realities of company codes of conduct, such as the one of adidas-Salomon.

In a statement to the European Parliament the CCCs highlight that immediate and concrete steps towards the establishment of an independent EU monitoring and verification mechanism are of utmost importance. Over the last years the number of company codes has increased dramatically, but these remain meaningless as long as implementation is lacking. The direct involvement of workers, trade unions and labour related NGOs in all stages of the monitoring and verification process is essential. Concerning the set of social standards the European CCCs consider the freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining and living wages to be at the centre of demands of the workers in the world-wide apparel and sportsshoe industry.

The European CCCs underline that although some steps have been taken by companies like adidas-Salomon towards an ethical global sourcing policy, these did not lead to satisfactory social improvements for the hundreds of thousands of workers worldwide who produce their goods.

Enclosed: Statement of the European CCCs to the EP

For more information: European CCC office / Ms. Ineke Zeldenrust phone 0031 - (0)20 - 4122 785 info@cleanclothes.org http://www.cleanclothes.org
German CCC office (Sudwind) / Ms.Ingeborg Wick phone 0049(0)224153617
Monday 20, Tuesday 21 both can be contacted at Magasins du Monde in Brussels, 0032-(0)2-3320110
Wednesday 22: 0031- (0)6-51-280210

Richard Howitt's office: 0032-(0)2- 2845477