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labour | workers’ rights

Japan, Philippines reach FTA accord
20-Nov-2004 Japan Times
Japan and the Philippines reached a basic agreement for a bilateral free-trade agreement after striking a deal on the stickiest issue — steel tariffs.
More trade caution seen with Kerry, more deals under Bush
2-Nov-2004 Stuff
An election win for Senator John Kerry could make the United States tougher and more cautious on trade, while a victory for President George W Bush would keep the country on the path to more deals, experts say.
Japan, S Korea hold free trade talks amidst demos
1-Nov-2004 AP
Japan and South Korea opened a new round of free trade talks in Tokyo as nearly 150 labor union members from the two countries clashed with police during a demonstration to oppose the deal.
Philippine gov’t reports big progress in talks with Japan
30-Oct-2004 INQ7.net
The Philippines reported significant progress in talks to sign a free-trade pact by the end of the year with Japan.
Japan: FTA talks with 3 nations at crucial stage
29-Oct-2004 Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan’s ongoing negotiations over free trade agreements with Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand are entering a crucial stage.
South Korea: Indefinite general strike planned
25-Oct-2004 GLW
Korean trade union and social organisations have worked together in recent months to stop the Japan-Korea FTA, arguing that it will result in the abolition of more regulations protecting workers rights, and more privatisation of public services. They also say the average citizens’ access to medical treatment and drugs will also be undermined by the FTA’s excuse to “protect” intellectual property rights.
’Change in labour law must for UAE-US FTA’
16-Oct-2004 Khaleej Times
UAE will have to change its labour code to meet international labour laws, revise the agency law and investment / sponsorship rules in order to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, according to US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick.
Japan: FTA deals deadlocked
13-Oct-2004 Asahi.com
Japan’s separate negotiations with Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and South Korea for bilateral free trade agreements have run into a brick wall.
UAE, US move towards FTA
8-Oct-2004 Khaleej Times
The United Arab Emirates and US made significant progress towards a Free Trade Agreement on Wednesday, paving the way for negotiations to start in the near future.
FTA could exacerbate Philippine nurse drain
7-Oct-2004 Japan Times
As the Philippines strives to get Japan to allow in Filipino health-care workers under a free-trade agreement now under negotiation, the country itself could be moving rapidly toward a crisis in which patients suffer as health-care professionals move abroad.
We denounce the Korea-Japan FTA
29-Sep-2004 Social Movements Network
The governments of Korea and Japan have come together today, 350km away from Seoul, for their fifth negotiation to consolidate a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. Ever since the negotiations were initiated last December, many NGOs and people’s organizations have shown concern over the planned FTA.
Business Urged to Monitor Free-Trade Deals Closely
22-Sep-2004
The National Council of Trade Unions (Nactu) urged the business community yesterday to aggressively interrogate government’s action on job security and on the free-trade agreements that were being concluded with other countries.
RENGO Report - requests regarding bilateral trade/investment agreements (2001)
13-Sep-2004
A report from RENGO’s International Department (Japanese Trade Union Centre) about bilateral trade and investment agreements: Japan-Korea Investment Agreement; Japan - Singapore Free Trade Agreement (February 2001)
COSATU wants bilateral trade moratorium
2-Sep-2004 Business Day
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Thursday called for a moratorium on all South Africa’s current bilateral trade agreements, and renewed its plea to the government to consistently pursue economic and trade policies that prioritise job retention and creation.
Union vows Labor will pay for trade deal
7-Aug-2004
Labor’s support for the American free trade agreement will cost the party about $100,000 in union donations - a blow on the eve of the federal election campaign.
Australian Senate urged to block the FTA
21-Jul-2004
Leading unions, doctors and welfare groups are urging the Senate to block the free trade agreement with the United States.
Round 3 of Japan-Philippines FTA talks end in stalemate
9-Jul-2004 ABS-CBN
The negotiations for the signing of the country’s first free-trade agreement ended up in a stalemate again after Japan has yet to act on the request of the Philippines to allow entry to Filipino nurses, health workers and lawyers.
Divide and conquer: bilateral trade agreements
4-Jun-2004 Dominion
The free trade agreements that are being vigorously negotiated by the US are empowering corporations in a manner that places them at the top of a global hierarchy, matching their economic might with political rights that bypass processes of democratic decision making.
Stop the Central American Free Trade Agreement!
28-May-2004 Stop the Central American Free Trade Agreement!
Our Congressional representatives and Senators will be in their home districts from May 24 to 31. As U.S. citizens we need to hold our elected officials responsible and call on them to vote against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
Regionalism and the multilateral trade system
20-Apr-2004
Regional trade agreements (RTAs) are an integral part of international trade, accounting for almost half of world trade and expected to grow further in the next few years. These agreements operate alongside global multilateral agreements under the World Trade Organization (WTO), and have both positive and negative effects.