Interviews
Play Fair torchbearers confront IOC on labor rights violations
10 Jun '08
3 min read
“Like any other brand-name company the IOC has to take supply chain responsibility, without doing so the five rings is on its way to becoming a symbol for the repression of workers fundamental rights.”
First contacted in 2003, the IOC has still produced no concrete plan to deal with the pressing issues of poverty wages, excessive overtime, health and safety violations and union repression in the workplaces where Olympic products are produced.
Play Fair understands that the IOC will include some reference to ethical supply chain issues in selecting the host city for 2016 Games, however, no detail is available on this, or indeed any substantial IOC action around the Vancouver, London or Sochi Olympics in the coming 8 years.
“We have spelled out our proposals to the IOC clearly, but we're still waiting for them to start a real discussion on implementing changes to end the exploitation of sports merchandise workers” said Guy Ryder, the ITUC General Secretary, one of the co-organizers of the Play Fair campaign.
Play Fair's June 2007 research report on working conditions at Olympic suppliers in China detailed some of the problems faced by women and men making Olympic products.
Today activists also visited the Olympic Museum in Lausanne to offer Play Fair's contribution to the current exhibition on Beijing 2008 and China. As with the IOC, the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG) response to Play Fair's reportwas insufficient. For more information see below.
First contacted in 2003, the IOC has still produced no concrete plan to deal with the pressing issues of poverty wages, excessive overtime, health and safety violations and union repression in the workplaces where Olympic products are produced.
Play Fair understands that the IOC will include some reference to ethical supply chain issues in selecting the host city for 2016 Games, however, no detail is available on this, or indeed any substantial IOC action around the Vancouver, London or Sochi Olympics in the coming 8 years.
“We have spelled out our proposals to the IOC clearly, but we're still waiting for them to start a real discussion on implementing changes to end the exploitation of sports merchandise workers” said Guy Ryder, the ITUC General Secretary, one of the co-organizers of the Play Fair campaign.
Play Fair's June 2007 research report on working conditions at Olympic suppliers in China detailed some of the problems faced by women and men making Olympic products.
Today activists also visited the Olympic Museum in Lausanne to offer Play Fair's contribution to the current exhibition on Beijing 2008 and China. As with the IOC, the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG) response to Play Fair's reportwas insufficient. For more information see below.
International Trade Union Confederation
Popular News
Leave your Comments
Editor’s Pick
Jason Kent
British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA)
Debin Mao
Qingdao Amino Materials Technology Co. Ltd.
Esteemed Clients
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
