(China) Olympic firms 'abusing workers'

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Sunday, 10 June 2007, 21:48 GMT 22:48 UK

Olympic firms 'abusing workers'

Some official merchandise for the 2008 Olympics in China has
been made using child labour, forced overtime and low wages
to boost profits, a report says.

Playfair - an alliance of world trade unions - has condemned
"severe workers' rights violations" in four Chinese factories
ahead of the Beijing games.

The group said it found abuses at the factories - licensed
to make official Olympic caps, bags and stationery.

Companies cited in the report have denied the allegations.

International Olympic Committee said it supported ethical
practices.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6739159.stm

---

Source: Associated Press

AP
China May Cancel Olympic Contracts

Monday June 11, 4:37 am ET
By Stephen Wade, Associated Press Writer

Beijing Olympic Officials May Cancel Contracts of Companies
Breaking Labor Rules

BEIJING (AP) -- Red-faced organizers of the Beijing Olympics
threatened Monday to cancel the contracts of companies using
child labor and violating minimum-wage rules to make Olympic-
licensed products.

In a report released Sunday, PlayFair 2008 -- an alliance of
global trade union and labor groups -- cited four factories in
southern China for labor violations and accused the International
Olympic Committee of doing too little to monitor the production
of products carrying the official Olympic five-rings logo.

"Companies that seriously violate the regulations will be stripped
of their authorization to produce the Olympic products," the
Beijing organizing committee said in a statement.

-snip-

Read more: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070611/beijing_labor_abuses.html

[Eugene]

1. China Blames Foreigners for Abuse

Source: Associated Press

China Blames Foreigners for Abuse

By STEPHEN WADE
The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 12, 2007; 6:16 AM

BEIJING -- A top Chinese union official is blaming
foreign businesses for alleged labor abuse _ including
child labor _ in the production of official Olympic-
licensed products in southern China.

"We welcome foreign companies that respect Chinese
laws and look after their workers," Xie Liangmin, a
senior official with the All-China Federation of Trade
Unions, said Tuesday in the state-run China Daily
newspaper. "Those relying on cheap labor and making
profits by violating workers' rights will finally be ousted."

The ACFTU is the Communist Party-controlled umbrella
group for government approved unions.

Xie's threat is the latest fallout from a report released
by PlayFair 2008, which alleges children as young as
12 work at China-based factories producing Olympic-
licensed products like bags, caps and stationery
products.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/12/AR2007061200316.html

[Crowman1979]

2. I say boycott next year's Summer Olympic games!

Who is with me?