More info on the Howitt resolution PRESS RELEASE
of the European Clean Clothes Campaigns (Amsterdam, 15 November 2000) Indonesian testimony on labour conditions in adidas factoriesat 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 CommunityMission" in Jakarta/Indonesia, will speak on labour conditionsat garment and sportsshoe supplier factories of adidas-Salomon inIndonesia at a hearing of the European Parliament (Committee onDevelopment and Cooperation) on 22 November. The company adidas-Salomonis also called upon to send a representative to the hearing, asis Ms. Ratna Saptari, an expert on the labour situation in Indonesia. The hearing is organized by British Labour MEP Richard Howitt andis a follow-up to the resolution on "Standard setting by Europeancompanies in developing countries: towards a Code of Conduct"adopted on 13 January 1999. This resolution aims at the establishmentof a new legal basis for a statutory EU framework governing companiesoperations world-wide. It foresees a model code of conduct, a sociallabel, public hearings and the creation of an independent "EuropeanMonitoring and Verification Mechanism" to oversee the implementationof social, environmental and human rights standards of Europeanbusiness abroad. The European Clean Clothes Campaigns represent over 200 NGOs andtrade unions in 10 European countries and have close partnershipswith labour related organisations in many regions of the world.The Campaigns welcome this first hearing since it brings to theattention of European Parliamentarians the experiences our Southernpartners have of the realities of company codes of conduct, suchas the one of adidas-Salomon. In a statement to the European Parliament the CCCs highlight thatimmediate and concrete steps towards the establishment of an independentEU 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 relatedNGOs in all stages of the monitoring and verification process isessential. Concerning the set of social standards the European CCCsconsider the freedom of association, the right to collective bargainingand living wages to be at the centre of demands of the workers inthe world-wide apparel and sportsshoe industry. The European CCCs underline that although some steps have beentaken by companies like adidas-Salomon towards an ethical globalsourcing policy, these did not lead to satisfactory social improvementsfor the hundreds of thousands of workers worldwide who produce theirgoods. Enclosed: Statement of the European CCCs to the EP For more information: European CCC office / Ms. Ineke Zeldenrustphone 0031 - (0)20 - 4122 785
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http://www.cleanclothes.org
German CCC office (Sudwind) / Ms.Ingeborg Wick phone0049(0)224153617
Monday 20, Tuesday 21 both can be contacted at Magasins du Mondein Brussels, 0032-(0)2-3320110
Wednesday 22: 0031- (0)6-51-280210 Richard Howitt's office: 0032-(0)2- 2845477 | 
