BUSINESS NEWS
2010 workers rights must be put 1st
Posted Wed, 24 Jan 2007
Workers' rights groups launched a worldwide campaign on Monday to promote "decent work" in football in the lead up to the 2010 World Cup, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) said. The campaign would initially focus on the construction sector in the build up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the confederation said in a statement. Led by Building Workers International's South African affiliate and the Labour Research Service in partnership with global trade unions, the campaign was launched on Monday in Nairobi, Kenya. A memorandum was issued to the organisers of the World Cup, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), calling for workers' rights to be respected in all industries associated with the world's most popular game.
The campaign aims to mobilise football fans worldwide to put pressure on FIFA, the South African government and companies contracted to build and or renovate the 10 stadiums required for the staging of the cup
to form agreements with the workers employed. This is to ensure that the work is undertaken in an environment free from occupational, health and safety hazards. "Workers should be guaranteed a decent wage, adequate social protection and other standards consistent with decent working conditions. "Contractors should respect core labour standards including the right of workers to collectively bargain and join a union," said the ITUC.
General secretary of the BWI, Anita Normark, said: "FIFA owes it to football fans all over the world to ensure that their game is not tainted by labour rights violations". She said the football's world body should ensure that all those contributing to the success of this event do so under decent working conditions. For South Africa, with 46 percent unemployment rate, the world cup would create over 200 000 decent jobs that could help alleviate poverty, said Trenton Elsley of the LRS in South Africa.
Sapa
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