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Country reports
October 2004 - February 2005
Austria - Clean Clothes Kampagne
- Public Awareness
Campaigns
CCC Austria is writing a new action handbook for
organisations and individual activists, which is due to come
out in March.
Other activities and Events
4th December 2004: CCC Austria organised a CCC-Party
in Vienna, which was attended by lots of young people (about
150), who got to know the CCC and drank for Clean Clothes: 500
€ profit.
- Solidarity Work
Urgent Appeals
CCC Austria is still working with the Olympics
Petition, and hasn't taken up any new UA work.
- Companies
Monitoring and Verification
The campaign on a regular basis participates
in civil-society CSR-discussions with TUs and NGOs, as well
as in public round table discussions on CSR.
3 Austrians participated in the rating & ranking meeting
in Paris on the 19th of January.
- New Publications and Materials
A new CCC Austria Newsletter came out in December
(circulation 11.000).
New posters with a price make up of jeans and sports shoes were
made.
Belgium North - Schone Kleren Campagne
- Public Awareness
Campaigns
Informal economy (Wereldsolidariteit, ACV, etc)
Launch 20 January: 220 staff members of different organisations;
exhibition and workshop 'the clothes she wears', petition towards
Belgian authorities; goal: 40 000 signatures.
- Solidarity Work
Urgent Appeals
- Gildan - Honduras
Belgian NGO FOS continued it's action in cooperation with
partner organisation FITH FESITRADEH.
- Daiyin Lanka - Sri Lanka
Belgian NGO Wereldsolidariteit started an action in cooperation
with partner organisation National Workers Congress - no
information after tsunami.
- Grupo M - Haiti
Belgian CCC representatives had a meeting with Levi Strauss'
director Global Code of Conduct Michael Kobori.
- Public Authorities
Ethical Procurement
Clean Clothes Communities
67 communities have now adopted a motion (out of 300).
Some communities included demands in public tenders; CCC Belgium
North is gathering information on this.
On December 4th, a seminar with 4 work wear companies was organised.
Together with this, research on Belgian suppliers of work wear
is taking place, accompanied by a round of phone calls to 20
major Belgian work wear suppliers.
- New Publications and Materials
Belgium (French and German speaking Belgium)
- Campagne Vêtements Propres
- Public Awareness
Campaigns
Toy campaign.
This campaign is now in a transition phase, towards a potential
enlargement within a purchasing practices campaign.
- Consumer side : New material has become available,
connecting bad labour conditions with over- consumption.
The campaign has a good working relation with Test Achats-Test
Aankoop (main consumer organisation in Belgium) who published
the results of the research concerning the labour conditions
in factories producing toys for well known brands.
- Media side : The campaign has had high media impact.
There has been contact with television stations in Belgium,
France and Switzerland to promote a Swedish programme made
by the Fair Trade Center, based upon Swedwatch research.
- Company side : No new systematic steps towards
companies were taken.
Other activities and Events
New website in preparation, to be launched on
the 31st of March 2005
www.vetementspropres.be
- Solidarity Work
Urgent Appeals
- Haïti - Codevi : follow-up of the action
that was launched in July. We had a meeting with Michael
Kobori (Levi's global code of conduct director) and Manuel
Baigorri, the new director general codes of conduct Europe,
Middle-East and Africa. New update (and possible press communique)
to be published soon on the website according to the confirmation
of the rehiring of the 300 workers.
Partner Activities
Transmission of the request for support after
Tsunami disaster from FTZUnion Sri Lanka and SBSI - Indonesia
to the member NGOs of the platform
- Companies
Monitoring and Verification
Follow-up of the launch of "Made with fair
trade cotton" socks on the Belgian market, labeled by Max
Havelaar.
- Public Authorities
Ethical Procurement
We are preparing a campaign on clean communities
for the end of 2006 (local elections will be in October).
- New Publications and Materials
We designed a toy campaign poster and a new website.
- Other relevant and inspiring news
New working group including trade union shop stewarts
of retailing companies to run a research-action. The aim is
to build a union tool to be used inside company councils or
European company committees to get information on the impact
of purchasing and sale practices on the labour conditions in
production and retailing. The research will also be used for
defining a trade union training programme. We work on the basis
of specific cases and by way of role play.
France - Collectif De l'éthique sur l'étiquette
- Public Awareness
Campaigns
2004
The "Play Fair at the Olympics" campaign was
a major campaign in France during year 2004.
Some VIPs from the sporting community and from
show-business supported the campaign: Didier Deschamps (football),
Opata Dieudonné (jumping), Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (sailing
boat), Emma Daumas (singer) and many others…
However the French Olympic Committee didn't accept
any responsibility for the working conditions in the sporting
goods industry and refused to engage into dialogue with the
French CCC (despite of two CCC press releases). In addition
to the tools of the international campaign, the collective "De
l'ethique sur l'etiquette" published some specific tools
in order to keep on pressuring the big French retailers (general
ones and some who specialise in sports retail).
A "barometer" was published, ranking
companies, regarding the CCC concerns on management of social
quality in the supply chains. French companies were ranked below
the 3 international brands Nike, Reebok and Adidas. A booklet
called "Entreprises et Qualite sociale 2004" (56 pages)
was published, delivering an extensive description of the social
quality management of each ranked company. All these tools are
available from the website: www.ethique-sur-etiquette.org
122 local CCC coalitions in France organised
335 events related to this campaign (this involved 667 associations
and local trade unions).
170 000 signatures were collected on the petition to IOC.
110 000 postcards were sent to 3 main French sports retailers
(Decathlon, Go sport and Intersport).
The main event in Paris involved a press conference
to launch the campaign on the 9th of March (contact with 800
journalists) + a demonstration on Trocadero (in front of the
Eiffel tower) on the 24th of June (with Engin Sedat Kaya, unionist
from Turkey).
In terms of media coverage, around 550 written articles in 163
newspapers, 11 radio + 5 TV items related our campaign appeared
in France.
2005
The French CCC developed a second phase for campaigning during
2005 in France on social quality management in the sporting
goods sector, called "Jouez le jeu !" (February 2005
- June 2005). The pressure will be directed specifically towards
Decathlon, E.Leclerc, Go Sport, Carrefour, Intersport, Auchan.
Among the 120 local coalitions in France, many will meet managers
of local shops to discuss social quality management. In addition
to these actions, postcards will be sent in France to pressure
Le Coq Sportif, Reebok and La Redoute.
- Solidarity Work
Urgent Appeals
- Stallion garment
Decathlon was pressured to reinstate the fired unionists
in the factory. A letter was produced by Decathlon, which
can be very helpful for the workers in their legal action
against Stallion garment.
- MSP - Thailand
Another case on anti-unionist actions. Strong pressure
on Decathlon as a current customer of this company. A Decathlon
mission is in Asia to follow this case, including the international
social compliance manager. Depending on the results of this
mission, the French CCC is considering to include this case
in the 2005 campaign, using the pressure of local coalitions
in French cities.
- Companies
Monitoring and Verification
The French CCC organises a round table in France
on monitoring and verification systems. It is scheduled for
the 2nd of June 2005. Two representatives of Southern organisations
(1 NGO + 1 TU) will be invited to participate.
- Public Authorities
Ethical Procurement
The collective "De l'ethique sur l'etiquette"
attends to every national meeting of the group of French communities
on ethical procurement. This group is coordinated by the association
"Citees Unies France", it's called "Achats Publics
Ethiques". Trainings are regularly organised by this group
to enlarge the skills in the French cities regarding this issue.
Legal Action
An "open letter" was sent in January
2004 to the French Ministry of Sustainable Development about
the implementation of the French law on "New Economic Regulations".
Some of the considerations made by the French CCC were taken
into account in several reports produced by the Ministry since
this CCC action. We are frequently presenting our position in
seminars organised in France about this law. This law requires
companies quoted in a stock exchange in France to annually deliver
written information on the social and environmental impacts
of their activities.
A study is forecasted by the French CCC during
the first half of 2005 on public regulation systems for social
quality management by companies worldwide.
- New Publications and Materials
For the 2005 campaign in France we will distribute
inside the French network: 1000 guidance manuals for activists,
3500 posters, 50 000 campaigning leaflets, 20 000 postcards,
500 panels for education/training, 48 000 stickers, 1500 Olympic
reports in French (+ several tools already used in 2004).
Germany - Kampagne für 'Saubere' Kleidung
- Public Awareness
Campaigns
In January 2005, the CCC sports committee started
discussions about a follow-up of the Olympic Campaign and the
build up to the Football World Championship 2006 in Germany.
Other activities and Events
Pre-Christmas street theatre in Berlin (Tchibo)
/ Educational material and events on sportswear at schools in
Lower Saxony / Trainings of metal workers' union officers on
general CCC topics.
- Solidarity Work
Partner Activities
Spreading the appeals for support of FTZ Union
Sri Lanka and PMK Indonesia after the tsunami catastrophe.
- Companies
Monitoring and Verification
a) Successful ending of pilot project involving CCC and
Hess Natur, resulting in extended membership of Hess Natur in
FWF.
b) Withdrawal of CCC from German Round Table on Codes of Conduct.
c) General agreement CCC and Puma on joint pilot project 2005
in El Salvador (November 2004) - concrete details to be determined
soon.
Brand related work
Tchibo and CCC talks in September 2004 about labour rights
violations in Bangladesh supplier factories - outcome unsatisfactory.
Street actions in October 2004 in Hamburg, further actions planned
at CCC Tchibo committee meeting in January for the next months.
- Public Authorities
Ethical Procurement
The CCC project on public procurement in Northrhine Westfalian
communities started in November 2003 and will end in April 2005.
Highlight was a survey on communities, which results were published
in a brochure in October 2004 and discussed at a public forum
on 7 December 2004 in Düsseldorf. This forum succeeded
in getting the support from the regional Ministry for the Environment
and Protection of Consumer Interests. A follow-up project has
been applied for.
Legal Action
CCC Germany made an assessment of the OECD complaint case
against adidas, which includes proposals for change of the OECD
Guidelines.
- New Publications and Materials
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"Textileinkauf bei Kommunen und Gemeinden.
Ausgewählte Gemeinden in NRW", by Gisela Burckhardt
et al., Wuppertal 2004 (German brochure on public procurement
in Northrhine Westfalia). German language.
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"Wir sind keine Maschinen. Globalisierte
Bekleidungsproduktion am Beispiel Mittelamerikas",
publ. CIR, Münster December 2004 (Globalised garment
production in Central America). German language.
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"Tchibo - Jede Woche eine andere Welt?
Nicht für die Textilarbeiterinnen" by Korshed
Alam et al., January 2005 (Tchibo - every week another world?
Not for the garment workers). German language.
-
"Nähen für den Weltmarkt. Frauenarbeit
in Freien Exportzonen und der Schattenwirtschaft. Länderbeispiele
China, Indonesien und Sri Lanka" (Women's work in export
processing zones and in the informal economy. Country studies
China, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Fashion companies under
examination), by Ingeborg Wick, SÜDWIND-Reihe 'Strukturelle
Gewalt in den Nord-Süd-Beziehungen, Siegburg January
2005. German language, extracts in English on website SÜDWIND
(HKCIC and PMK research.)
International Secretariat - Clean Clothes Campaign
- Coordination
Campaigns
Play Fair at the Olympics
The international secretariat has had an evaluation done for
the Olympics campaign. The outcomes have been shared. An evaluation
and planning meeting of the Olympics campaign has been organised
in December 2004, with Oxfam, Global Unions, and other partners
in the campaign.
Other activities and Events
Visit Greece
From December 18th to 20th 2004, the IS visited Athens, because
as a result of the cooperation for the PfatO campaign, the union
had taken the initiative to set up CCC Hellas. The core group
now consists of the GSEE union, Amnesty International Greece
and Fair Trade Hellas. We had a preliminary meeting with those
organisations, and after that a larger meeting with other Greek
NGOs and unions to inform them of the CCC, Greek plans and hear
about their interests and ideas. The secretariat will be formed
by the union, and the campaign is now set to be launched in
March.
Visit Spain
From December 21st to 23rd 2004, the IS visited Spain, to discuss
the current state of affairs with Setem and other organisations
in the platform. They met with new (part time) coordinator Eva
Kreisler, with Setems from different parts of the country, and
other NGOs. Eva will be based in Madrid, and priorities for
2005 include international coordination and relationships; rebuilding
national platform; communication in Spain: website, e-newsletter,
materials; work on Spanish companies: research, contacts and
actions; work on the South: Morocco, urgent appeals.
Organisation Euromeeting
The IS organised and coordinated the European meeting, February
3rd and 4th 2005 in Brussels.
- Solidarity Work
Urgent Appeals
Impact Assessment Study
A draft of the Urgent Appeals Impact Study Assessment Study
was submitted by the researcher, Kelly Dent. The IS provided
extensive comments, and now Kelly is revising the study based
on these comments and other feedback received from the study
reference group. The IS organised a workshop to discuss the
study findings with the European CCC coordinators (Feb 2) and
a workshop with partners who we work on UAs with in Asia. The
study will be finalised end of March.
Partner Activities
Visit Bangladesh
From January 7th to 17th 2005, the IS visited Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The aims for this visit were to meet with our partner organisations
and discuss the most important priorities for the CCC work dedicated
to the country, and visit some factories for starting work on
research about audit companies. We had over 25 meetings, a report
of which is prepared and shared.
- Companies
Monitoring and Verification
- Co-organised and participated in a workshop on code implementation
in the garment industry at EU CSR conference Maastricht,
9 November, and subsequently took part in a debriefing of
the Dutch minister for Development.
- Joint Project (Turkey): consultation and steering committee
meeting in Turkey (2-5 November); brands and steering committee
meeting in Amsterdam (24 and 25 January).
Brand related work
- The IS prepared a letter about the phasing out of the
MFA, for CCCs to send to companies (preferably non-MSIs)
and governments in their country.
- Nominated Wal-Mart for the Public Eye in Davos (and won)
in the category labour rights, the case file can be found
on: http://www.evb.ch/index.cfm?page_id=3339
- New Publications and Materials
A new leaflet explaining the CCC Urgent Appeals
system was produced. This short brochure is aimed at providing
workers' organizations and their advocates in countries where
garments are produced with basic information on what the UA
system is and how to contact the system should they want to
make use of it. This brochure is useful to leave behind when
you go to visit partner organisations and mention the CCC's
UA work. To order copies, please contact the IS.
A new edition of the International newsletter
was produced in December. Work is ongoing on the special edition
of the newsletter on gender and how it relates to the issues
the CCC takes up.
A draft version of the Informal labour seminar
report is written and shared - later a definitive and designed
version will become available.
On the internal website, the IS built a Contacts
Database, a HR Photo Database, the Urgent Appeals Database.
Also, and overview of available Educational material was compiled
and put up on that site.
the Netherlands - Schone Kleren Kampagne
- Public Awareness
Campaigns
Evaluation of the Fair Play campaign within coalition
(CCC, FNV, Novib): concept report has been written. Novib and
FNV stopped campaigning, CCC does follow up towards NOC*NSF.
Other activities and Events
Workshops and lectures:
- 19 November: CCC contributed to a big sport event for
700 students. Theme: sports and development issues. Event
took place at Papendal, where NOC*NSF is located.
- 23 November: lecture at secondary school on Olympics
campaign and CCC issues in general.
- Solidarity Work
Urgent Appeals
Global Sports Lanka (North Sails Lanka)
- October 2004: Re-opening campaign on North Sails: no
progress has been made in negotiations between GSL and union.
- 14 December 2004: international solidarity actions in
the Netherlands and Switzerland. NL: Action in front of
Kubus Sports, North Sails dealer. In Switzerland they tried
to find out more about North Sails and its business relations
Global Sports Technologies and Boards and More. On the same
day, workers at the North Sails factory distributed posters,
calling to take back the dismissed workers.
- 23 January 2005: CCC Netherlands and Germany spoke with
North Sails dealers, public and distributed flyers at one
of the biggest European water sports exhibition in Dusseldorf.
A week before, No Sweat activists attended the London boat
show, distributed action cards, and were expelled from the
grounds by security.
- 10.000 leaflets produced: North Sails wipes out on workers'
rights (5.000 Dutch, 5.000 German)
Codevi, Haiti
- Sent letter to Dutch representative of the World Bank
(Ad Melkert)
- November 2004: letter of protest sent around the mailing
list
- Answer from Ad Melkert: mediation process underway
- Now: discussion on how to proceed
Also, we did some letter writing to Fila's Dutch
importer and Cerberus (who took over Fila) to inform them about
the international meeting that took place in September in New
York between CCC, Oxfam, unions and the Chief Marketing Officer
of Fila and to express our concerns about the situation at the
PT Tae Hwa factory in Tangerang, Indonesia.
- Companies
Monitoring and Verification
- FWF: 14 members (new: producer of work wear, and Hess
- first European company that becomes a FWF member)
- FWF participates in the ´Joint Initiative´
with other MSI´s on monitoring and verification (Europe
and the US) and the CCC.
- European companies can become a FWF member if stakeholders
(unions and NGO's) in the respective country support this.
Brand related work
Working group on rating and ranking met for the
first time in Paris at the 19th of January.
- Public Authorities
Ethical Procurement
Clean Clothes Communities
Amsterdam won the sustainable purchasing price 2004
for the release of brochure 'clean clothes'. This brochure is
meant to be a practical guide for municipal buyers of work wear.
This yearly price is presented by the Ministry of housing, spatial
planning and the environment (VROM) to governments who inspiringly
integrate sustainability into their buying practices. A first
evaluation in the community council is on its way.
CCC NL and Albert Sales of Setem, Spain, visited
Enschede which is the first Dutch municipality that uses the
Amsterdam guide in their public procurement document with far
reaching social and environmental demands (referring to FWF
membership). Both participated in a study day organised by CCC
Belgium.
The Ministry of Defence adjusted its environmental
note by inserting ILO norms, but added nothing on monitoring
and verification. FWF wrote a letter to the Minister for Development
Cooperation to raise this issue.
- New Publications and Materials
- Dutch newsletter 'Schoon Genoeg', October 2004, results
of the Fair Play at the Olympics campaign, interview with
NOC*NSF representative, article on the phase out of the
MFA and a FAQ.
- Letter of protest, November 2004, Codevi case, Haiti.
- Action card on North Sails, North Sails wipes out on
workers' rights, German and Dutch.
Spain - Campaña Ropa Limpia
- Public Awareness
Campaigns
Play Fair at the Olympics:
Various activities were done to support the campaign. In Spain,
this campaign was carried out by SETEM, Intermón Oxfam,
CC.OO., and UGT (two development NGOs and two trade unions respectively),
with local support from some autonomous regions by separate
NGOs.
Press Events :
Press Conference, 4th of March 2004: presentation of the campaign
"Play Fair at the Olympics" TV, radio, and newspaper
coverage. During the press conference, the report about labour
conditions in the sports industry was presented. The top representatives
of the participating organizations spoke publicly.
Signature collection and awareness building
occurred in the following acts:
- Madrid Marathon (Madrid): 23rd of April 2004. The runners
had to pick up their numbers and registration material in
Casa de Campo. The presence of the biggest sports brands
was all around, as each runner was bombarded by big-name
merchandising. The main aim was to have the runners and
their families sign onto the program. 210 signatures.
- Taking advantage of the Olympic torch in both Madrid
and Barcelona, events were planned in cities to promote
and build awareness about the "Fair Play in the Olympics"
campaign:
- Museo Reina Sofia (Madrid): media-covered event, involving
African drum players, jugglers and acrobats. Placing tables
near the entrance of the Museum allowed the passing visitors
to inform themselves about the campaign. A "Dream Quilt"
hung in the plaza. Radio and TV coverage - 814 signatures.
- Edificio CC.OO. Vía Laietana: The Dream Quilt
was placed on display at the headquarters of the CC.OO in
Barcelona, right in front of the path of the Olympic torch.
- Forum (Barcelona): signatures of adhesion to the campaign
"Play Fair at the Olympics" collected by Intermón
Oxfam and SETEM Barcelona during the Forum. More than 90.000
signatures were collected.
- 20th of June: dialogue within the Forum "What's
behind your clothes?" organised by SETEM. Speakers:
representatives of trade unions and employers associations
from Southern and Northern countries, representatives of
CC.OO and UGT (Spanish trade unions), Intermón Oxfam
and SETEM.
- Concert Benicassim (Valencia): Organized by Intermón
Oxfam.
In total, 160.000 signatures were collected by
the participating organizations throughout Spain.
- Public Authorities
Ethical Procurement
A programme about Ethical Procurement in the
Catalonia region was initiated in September 2004. Different
local governments are involved: Barcelona, Manresa and Badalona.
4th August 2004: The Diputación de Sevilla
(public administration of Sevilla) approved and signed a statement
of adhesion to the campaign "Play Fair at the Olympics".
The Diputación de Sevilla sent the agreement of adhesion
to Puma, Fila, Asics, Nike and Reebok.
Sweden - Rena Kläder
- Public Awareness
Campaigns
Se Upp - Public Procurement
In February Rena Kläder has launched the campaign Se Up,
the Swedish public procurement campaign. The launch will consists
of an op-ed, seminars for community staff that carry out procurement,
and the release of a book about public procurement. The Swedish
Association of Health Professionals/Vårdförbundet
will partly participate in this campaign.
Toy Campaign
Fair Trade Center's toy campaign has distributed 300 documentaries
on toy production to schools and unions in Sweden. The documentary
is now also translated into English and available from www.fairtradecenter.se.
The campaign is presently focusing on pushing
the Swedish toy companies to open up the factories in China
to workers' education. Together with the Swedish church youth
organisation postcards with this message have been printed and
distributed.
The toy companies have agreed to re-audit the
investigated factories and share and discuss their findings
with Fair Trade Center. This might create an opening for workers
education project if HKCIC's findings are confirmed in the re-audits.
Other activities and Events
Ecology textile fair
Rena Kläder participated on the first fair in Sweden
for eco-textiles trying to add a social perspective to the subject.
Panel in Gothenburg
Rena Kläder participated in a panel debate in Gothenburg
about the garment industry.
Socialistic Forum in Stockholm
During the Socialistic Forum in Stockholm Rena Kläder
arranged a seminar. In the panel participated Joel Lindefors
(CCC), Henrik Lindholm (Fair Trade Center) and Monina Wong (HKCIC).
Education weekend
In November Rena Kläder arranged an education weekend
for activists and members from the organisations in the platform.
20 persons participated. Focus was put on campaigning for ethical
procurement.
ATC letter
Because of the MFA phase out, Rena Kläder sent out
a letter to 13 clothes and shoe retailers. Up till today five
of the retailers have answered, saying that they are not going
to make any changes in their supply chain due to the MFA phase
out.
- Solidarity Work
Urgent Appeals
- North Sails Lanka
Put on website.
- MSP Sportswear
Put on website, with possibility to send an email directly
from there.
- New Publications and Materials
- Se Upp - a brochure about public procurement. In Swedish.
- Website - Rena Kläder released a new homepage in
January with an improved UA function, more accessible general
information about the garment industry and inspiration for
activists.
Switzerland - Clean Clothes Campaign
- Public Awareness
Public Eye on Davos 2005 (=parallel conference
to the World Economic Forum WEF, Jan. 2005)
On 26 January 2005, the opening day of the World
Economic Forum (WEF), the Berne Declaration and Pro Natura presented
the first "Public Eye Awards" for irresponsible companies.
The laureates of the "Public Eye Awards" were: The
Dow Chemical Company, Royal Dutch/Shell Group, Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc. and KPMG International. The Public's Award went to Nestlé
S.A.
The winner of the labour law category is US retailing
giant Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. that was nominated by the Clean
Clothes Campaign. The working conditions in Wal-Mart's clothes
supply factories in Africa and Asia are intolerable, ranging
from excessive compulsory overtime to wages below the subsistence
level. Aisha Bahadur, Civil Society Research and Support Collective,
Durban (South Africa) presented the Wal-Mart case (for details
see: http://www.evb.ch/index.cfm?page_id=3380).
Other nominated garment companies:
- North Sails, GST, Boards and More Nominated by: Clean
Clothes Campaign
- Stallion Garments Nominated by: Maru Malarchi Labour
Front
- Tschibo Nominated by CCC Germany (Tchibo-working group)
Workshops on company rating
After a workshop with activists, letters were sent to companies
with a bad rating (according to our publication "Prêt-à-Partager",
2004). The PKZ-Group was forced to answer, which was the first
time they gave some information about their social compliance
system.
Global Week of Action (10.-16. April 2005)
With the slogan "Setting the peoples' agenda" there
will be a global week of action in April 2005. The Swiss Clean
Clothes Campaign is participating with an Action Day on April
14th. There will be actions at least in three Swiss cities.
United Kingdom - Labour Behind the Label
- Public Awareness
Campaigns
Sportswear: UMBRO follow-up:
We had a meeting between UMBRO, LBL and ITGLWF which was
held in mid-December (Oxfam and TUC were unable to attend).
British Olympic Association/Greater London
Authority follow-up
We've had a third meeting with the BOA in January.
GLA have had contact with the ETI and are looking at which procurement
contracts within the London 2012 Bid could include labour rights
issues. ETI, TUC and London bid are working on a code to include
in procurement contracts which will address labour standards
in supply chains as well as environmental and construction worker
standards.
Evaluation of Olympic Campaign
The UK evaluation assessed the effectiveness of the PFOC
with particular emphasis on the costs and benefits of working
as a coalition and on improvements which could be made in any
future joint working. The key findings on the campaign are:
- that the Campaign was generally successful against objectives,
gaining considerable media coverage, engaging with all target
organisations and shifting the debate on the exploitation
of workers in the sportswear industry;
- that the coalition should continue to campaign on the
issues to ensure that target companies and related bodies
do implement the desired changes in policy and practice
and that these translate into positive changes for workers
in the industry.
- Solidarity Work
Urgent Appeals
Work done on two cases involving Matalan, one
case on Stallion garments (ASDA/Woolworths)
- Public Authorities
Ethical Procurement
Following a meeting with LBL, No Sweat and Unison,
the University of Cardiff's School of Business Studies has completed:
- a preliminary study has been made of the UK legal framework
for public procurement, which concludes that there are examples
of local authorities taking environmental and social considerations
into account when making public purchases despite an Act
passed in 1988 to compel local authorities to make their
choices on competitive grounds alone;
- a questionnaire has been devised to establish the purchasing
practices and policies of local authorities (LAs) with regard
to work wear. This questionnaire, as far as we know, has
been sent to all UK LAs.
LBL intends to develop this work, possibly using
Scotland as a pilot study, and to continue to develop the project
in collaboration with Cardiff and the other partners.
Oxfam Cymru (Wales) have managed to persuade the
Welsh Assembly to second someone from Oxfam to work on ethical
procurement since they are one of few governments that states
it has a 'duty to promote sustainable development'. There is
a lot of Ministerial buy in to this. Their aim is to work out
some guidance for authorities and bodies issuing procurement
contracts. They will probably focus on the top 10 procured items
- including clothes and computers they think.
CAFOD are doing some work on procurement including
having regular meetings with the governmental body that advises
public authorities in England on procurement to produce best
practice guidance.
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