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labour | workers’ rights

Fair trade proving anything but in $6B market
23-Dec-2011 Bloomberg
Fair trade is increasingly becoming a marketing strategy where the farmers’ poverty is a necessary ingredient to make consumers feel good about themselves
Korea-US Free Trade Agreement a Job-Killer
17-Dec-2011
The ITUC, supported by its Korean and US affiliates, has warned that the new “KORUS” free trade agreement between the two countries will cost hundreds of thousands of jobs. The agreement was rushed through the Korean parliament in a hastily-convened session designed to catch opposition parties off-guard and minimise the possibility for public reaction.
Zenroren protests against Prime Minister Noda’s commitment to join TPP negotiations
29-Nov-2011
Today (November 11), Prime Minister NODA Yoshihiko expressed his willingness for Japan to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations that would lead Japanese society to ruin. It is very clear that the TPP represents the U.S. intention to impose its trade rules on Japan and that it would benefit only Japanese and U.S. large exporters while forcing the majority of the people to endure the unbearable hardships.
TPPA framework shows leaders only listening to business
29-Nov-2011
The leaders’ "framework" of where they consider the Transpacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) should head unfortunately shows they have been listening only to the concerns of business, and shown little concern to the voices of unions and other organisations says CTU Economist Bill Rosenberg.
ÉTATS-UNIS-COLOMBIE - Clauses sociales : l’APC-TLC relance-t-il la discussion ?
28-Nov-2011 alterinfos
Ce texte a comme principal propos de s’interroger sur la possibilité que les clauses sociales et environnementales des traités de libre échange deviennent un instrument important de la protection des droits du travail et des droits environnementaux en Amérique latine.
40,000 against the KORUS FTA
14-Nov-2011 Hankyoreh
Tens of thousands of laborers hold a “Nationwide Workers’ Rally” hosted by Korea Confederation of Trade Unions in front of Seoul City Hall, Nov. 13 against the far-reaching implications of the Korea-US FTA
US union tells Clinton Colombian colleagues face ’elevated threat’
24-Oct-2011 Colombia Reports
US labor union United Steelworkers sent Hillary Clinton an "emergency alert" Friday warning Secretary of State that Colombian unionists are under an "elevated threat" after Washington approved a free trade deal between the two countries.
Workers’ rights a part of trade deals
3-Oct-2011 Politico
The Republicans’ refusal to reference the Colombian Action Plan Related to Labor Rights in the US-Colombia free trade agreement’s implementing bill — and the Obama administration’s acquiescence to that refusal — is a fundamental flaw that is becoming increasingly apparent, writes US Representative Sander Levin
Documentary: CAFTA led to workers’ rights violations in Honduras
27-Sep-2011 AFL CIO
Ever since it was passed five years ago, the Central America Free Trade Agreement-Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR) has led to an increase in unemployment, violations of worker rights and discrimination against women in Honduras, according to an about-to-be-released documentary.
Jordan firm accused of sexual abuse supplied clothes to Sears, Target and others
27-Sep-2011 WBEZ
Since 2007, at least 300 young female employees have been raped and brutalized by Classic managers while sewing clothes for giant retailers, including Hanes, Target, Sears, Macy’s and Land’s End. These garments enter the US duty-free under the US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement.
FTAs promote inequality: Stiglitz
23-Sep-2011 Prensa Latina
According to Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize winner for economics, free trade agreements constitute one of the clearest links between globalization and increasing inequality.
Guatemala says it will win US labor challenge
9-Sep-2011 Reuters
Guatemala is confident it will defeat a US challenge to its record on labor rights, the country’s economy minister said on Wednesday, and he linked the challenge to White House efforts to win domestic support for several free trade deals.
Francine Raynault would like to reopen NAFTA
31-Aug-2011 L’Action
A Member of Parliament is reckoning bringing the case of Kruger before the Canadian Parliament.
Why We Oppose the KORUS FTA - KCTU Position Paper on KORUS FTA
17-Aug-2011 KCTU
The Korean Conferederation of Trade Unions has great concerns about the bilateral and regional FTAs which are currently expanding in number across the world.
Protesters denounce Canada-Honduras free trade deal
15-Aug-2011
Prime Minister Stephen Harper boasted Friday that Canada’s new free trade deal with Honduras will help that crime-ridden country emerge from poverty and political chaos, adding that his opponents are just "selfish" trade protectionists.
European Union not keen to relax FTA visa curbs
15-Aug-2011
The European Union is pushing for more foreign investment in a slew of sectors-banking, insurance, legal, accounting, postal, maritime and security services-but is unwilling to allow a bigger number of Indian professionals to work in the 27-member union. The EU is also reluctant in permitting services trade through electronic channels.
Guatemala labor case: US steps up pressure
12-Aug-2011 In These Times
The United Steelworkers union (USW) said it strongly supported the US plan to move forward with arbitration.
The US must seek labour guarantees in trade agreements
11-Aug-2011 SDP
Defenders of labour rights celebrated today the US request to establish an arbitral panel to analyse Guatemala’s non compliance with labour rights under a free trade agreement (FTA).
US requests panel to decide Guatemala labor case
10-Aug-2011 Reuters
The United States said on Tuesday it was requesting a dispute settlement panel to hear its year-old complaint that Guatemala has failed to protect workers’ rights as required under CAFTA. Guatemala could potentially face millions of dollars in fines if the panel finds it has violated the agreement.
U.S. requests panel to decide Guatemala labor case
10-Aug-2011
The United States said on Tuesday it was requesting a dispute settlement panel to hear its year-old complaint that Guatemala has failed to protect workers’ rights as required under a free-trade agreement.