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World Wide Web of Work
Advances in technology and removal of rules on international
trade, mean that businesses no longer need to have their factories near their design
offices or computer programmers. They are free to go wherever workers' pay is lowest. They
call it GLOBALISATION. But pay
is sometimes driven down by scrimping on health and safety and people end up working in
dangerous conditions. It happens in the Third World and the UK.
around the world...
21-year-old Noy, earns �3.76 for a 13-hour day
making toys for Disney at a Bangkok factory. Four years ago she survived a factory fire in
which 188 factory workers died and 469 were injured. The toy factory had no fire alarms or
extinguishers and inadequate fire exits and stairwells.
"You are not allowed to lift your head while working,
not allowed to talk," says 25-year-old Suwanna, who works in a garment factory in Sri
Lanka.
Isabelle is 21 and works near Santiago, Chile
for six months of the year packing fruit. "I did begin my
studies, but in the end I had to give up because my family couldn't afford the fees. If
you get pregnant, you hide it for as long as possible, because you lose your job."
...and in Merseyside
Matt, 19, and Johnny,
24, are being made redundant from a car factory in St Helens, because the
factory needs to complete in the world market.
Meanwhile, Baz, 19, works five days a week in
Norris Green earning just �1.50 per hour.
Sue Mannion, a 20-year old youth work student
and a member of the Young Christian Workers, says "Whether we like it or not, work plays a huge part in
everyone's lives. Perhaps together we can call for some basic rights for all, no matter
where we live. We should work together to ensure that we can all have pride in what we do."
CAFOD'S campaign for the millennium, Fair Deal for the Poor,
calls on all UK companies that trade with Third World suppliers to adopt independently monitored codes of conduct. These are lists
of standards which suppliers must agree to meet.
It's up to companies to devise their own codes (they're more likely to abide by them
if they do), but we hope they will include a ban on forced or child labour, a limit to
working hours, a guarantee of a safe and healthy workplace and the right to form a free
trade union.
Telephone CAFOD on 0171 733 7900 for Fair Deal cards, or if you would like to complete a card online, left click the image map below.
You've heard of environmentally-friendly, well this is all about being
"people-friendly".
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