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15 September, 1999A new free trade agreement must include the ILO's core labour standards.
The basic idea of free trade between all countries in the world is the condition for a more just distribution of wealth.
Free trade is supposed to give every country in the world the opportunity to transfer goods and products from one place to another, without any barrier.
Free trade must be fair trade.
No differences in legislation or in treatment should exist, to protect certain domestic products or certain countries.
But this is not enough. Labour standards which rule working conditions practiced in manufacturing products for export have to be the same all over the world, as well.
If fair trade means the same opportunity for everybody, then we have to ensure that no differences exist between countries' labour practices.
This is the fundamental demand which trade unions all over the world have been pressing for ever since the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was founded.
But the GATT never listened to the trade unions. We hoped that the new organisation which replaced the GATT, the World Trade Organisation, would be more open to accept our arguments.
It seems to be just as difficult as in the past.
However, the trade unions are better organised now, so we should be able to exert some influence.
Also, the conditions are different. Many governments have accepted the trade unions' standpoint and are ready to fight side by side with us, and we with them.
The WTO will be meeting in Seattle end of November-early December to start a new round of negotiations which will hopefully lead to more liberalisation of trade.
Again, trade unions want the WTO to include a clause in the agreement, to be signed in the near future, which guarantees that the ILO's core labour standards are fully respected and applied in all countries, without exception.
Our demands are not just limited to core labour standards, but also include some basic rules for protection of the environment.
Basically, what we want is that no country be allowed to trade any goods or services which have been produced either in violation of human and trade union rights or have caused damage to the environment.
Violations of these rules should entail sanctions against the country and company which are found to be guilty by the WTO and ILO.
Trade unions worldwide have a good opportunity, before the negotiations start in Seattle, to put their own national governments under a great deal of pressure, which will make it possible for them to raise the issue at the meeting, and also argue for that during the negotiations.
The IMF will, together with all other ITSs and the ICFTU, continue to monitor what the WTO and individual governments do.
The IMF, as well as other ITSs and the ICFTU, will be accredited to the Seattle meeting as an observer.
But more important is to coordinate our campaign at international and national level in order to get the most out of our actions.
Free trade is supposed to give every country in the world the opportunity to transfer goods and products from one place to another, without any barrier.
Free trade must be fair trade.
No differences in legislation or in treatment should exist, to protect certain domestic products or certain countries.
But this is not enough. Labour standards which rule working conditions practiced in manufacturing products for export have to be the same all over the world, as well.
If fair trade means the same opportunity for everybody, then we have to ensure that no differences exist between countries' labour practices.
This is the fundamental demand which trade unions all over the world have been pressing for ever since the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was founded.
But the GATT never listened to the trade unions. We hoped that the new organisation which replaced the GATT, the World Trade Organisation, would be more open to accept our arguments.
It seems to be just as difficult as in the past.
However, the trade unions are better organised now, so we should be able to exert some influence.
Also, the conditions are different. Many governments have accepted the trade unions' standpoint and are ready to fight side by side with us, and we with them.
The WTO will be meeting in Seattle end of November-early December to start a new round of negotiations which will hopefully lead to more liberalisation of trade.
Again, trade unions want the WTO to include a clause in the agreement, to be signed in the near future, which guarantees that the ILO's core labour standards are fully respected and applied in all countries, without exception.
Our demands are not just limited to core labour standards, but also include some basic rules for protection of the environment.
Basically, what we want is that no country be allowed to trade any goods or services which have been produced either in violation of human and trade union rights or have caused damage to the environment.
Violations of these rules should entail sanctions against the country and company which are found to be guilty by the WTO and ILO.
Trade unions worldwide have a good opportunity, before the negotiations start in Seattle, to put their own national governments under a great deal of pressure, which will make it possible for them to raise the issue at the meeting, and also argue for that during the negotiations.
The IMF will, together with all other ITSs and the ICFTU, continue to monitor what the WTO and individual governments do.
The IMF, as well as other ITSs and the ICFTU, will be accredited to the Seattle meeting as an observer.
But more important is to coordinate our campaign at international and national level in order to get the most out of our actions.