Read this article in:
27 June, 2006IMF affiliates in Africa argue that the current proposals of the WTO will have a negative impact on developing countries and undermine development, in particular in Africa and, in turn, will increase the pressure on workers in the more industrialised nations.
SOUTH AFRICA: African metalworker unions expressed concern about the proposals being currently discussed at the WTO in the framework of the Doha "Development" Round.
In a statement from metalworker unions in Angola, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the African unions call on all trade unions, especially in developed countries, to take effective action to influence the ongoing negotiations, in particular on NAMA, and to prevent their completion on their current basis.
The statement asks comrades in the North and in the South to join forces and intervene with our respective governments to ensure that the Doha round of WTO negotiations genuinely contributes to development.
The statement, which was adopted at the end of an IMF seminar on trade, employment and development on June 27, asks trade unions in all countries to mobilise their membership, in alliance with other social movements, to ensure that the Doha round is indeed a developmental round. In particular:
The African trade unions stated that they have the responsibility to bring these issues to the attention of their governments and demand from them not to give in particularly to unacceptable demands on NAMA.
The seminar was one of a series of regional meetings being held by the IMF in 2006, aimed at developing common strategies and building union capacity to engage with governments, employers and other institutions on trade, finance and development policies.
A full copy of the statement in English is published on the IMF website.
In a statement from metalworker unions in Angola, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the African unions call on all trade unions, especially in developed countries, to take effective action to influence the ongoing negotiations, in particular on NAMA, and to prevent their completion on their current basis.
The statement asks comrades in the North and in the South to join forces and intervene with our respective governments to ensure that the Doha round of WTO negotiations genuinely contributes to development.
The statement, which was adopted at the end of an IMF seminar on trade, employment and development on June 27, asks trade unions in all countries to mobilise their membership, in alliance with other social movements, to ensure that the Doha round is indeed a developmental round. In particular:
- NAMA must provide space for developing countries to pursue an active industrial policy. For this to be possible we support a coefficient of at least 40 and exemption of 15 per cent of imports.
- The EU and the USA must make genuine concessions in agriculture, while taking measures to ensure that the adjustment costs in their countries do not fall on the back of workers and the poor; and all governments must ensure that the agreement contain commitments on assistance to, promotion of, and protection for small holders in the South.
- On GATS, basic services must not be tabled by any party, and any agreement on services must explicitly ensure access for poor and working people in the South and respect their development needs.
The African trade unions stated that they have the responsibility to bring these issues to the attention of their governments and demand from them not to give in particularly to unacceptable demands on NAMA.
The seminar was one of a series of regional meetings being held by the IMF in 2006, aimed at developing common strategies and building union capacity to engage with governments, employers and other institutions on trade, finance and development policies.
A full copy of the statement in English is published on the IMF website.