Editorial newsletter 11, july 99

It’s been quite some time since we’ve published the international newsletter, so this time we’ve put together a double issue. As you can see from the reports included in this edition, the CCC network continues to grow and the level of activity continues to increase. Inside you’ll find reports on the activities of several of the CCCs, including news on public debates, consumer actions, and educational initiatives. Several of the issues that the campaign continues to struggle with are discussed in this issue. There’s a feature article on the living wage issue, a report on an educational project that reveals what workers think about codes of conduct, and several other articles that take up the issue of independent monitoring. Interesting developments on the monitoring front include pilot projects involving the French CCC and the Swedish CCC, which we hope will yield valuable experience to help members of the network learn about the possibilities for making independent monitoring work. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, after five years of negotiations involving the Dutch CCC, a foundation was launched that will pursue a two-year project to better develop independent monitoring procedures.

The various campaigns continue to be busy pressuring sportswear companies to live up to their promises to improve working conditions. Adidas was the focus of attention at actions in the Netherlands and Germany. With the European Football Championship coming up, expect a lot more attention to be given to companies like adidas, Nike, and Puma, who pay big bucks in sponsorship deals to get exposure for their brands, yet continue to pay poverty wages to the workers who produce their goods.

Research on the Bulgarian garment industry is also presented in this issue, as well as a piece on what the future might hold if the Dutch CCC’s idea for Clean Clothes Communities takes off.

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