13th November 2001
Why the Clock is Ticking for Workers Rights
SOLIDAR
13 November Solidar expresses disappointment over the new Draft WTO Declaration, which reflects WTO members lack of commitment to the application of decent Core Labour Standards for all workers worldwide.
The new Draft Declaration, released on the last morning of the Ministerial Conference, merely reaffirms the Singapore Declaration on Core Labour Standards, taking note of the work under way in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the social dimension of globalisation.
An amendment, tabled by the EU, received strong support from South Africa, New Zealand and many other countries, including developing and transition countries. But the intransigence of the governments of India, Egypt, Malaysia, Pakistan and a few others, have denied the WTO the chance to begin redeeming itself in the eyes of the peoples of the world, let alone the anti-globalisation movements since Seattle.
Giampiero Alhadeff, Solidars Secretary General, speaking in Doha, said If this wording is not strengthened it is going to make it very hard for us to explain to our members why they should not reject the WTO outright.¨
Rodney Bickerstaffe, leader of the Solidar Global Network delegation in Doha, said: Its time for countries who have privately expressed their support for a very reasonable and low-key working relationship between the WTO and the ILO, to stand up and be counted. In the 21st century it cannot be too much to ask for mature consideration of these fundamental rights. The clock is ticking, and millions of workers world-wide are watching, and waiting in fear.¨
The Core Labour Standards are:
the right to belong to a trade union and the right to collective bargaining,
the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour,
the right to a childhood free from labour,
the right not to be discriminated against.