A coalition of the four U.S. trade associations is calling for the government of Uzbekistan “to take decisive and immediate actions to end the use of forced child labor in its cotton fields,” the group said.

The coalition hand-delivered a letter addressed to Uzbekistan President Islam Abduganievich Karimov to ambassador of Uzbekistan H.E. Abdulaziz Kamilov today here.

By Jonathan Birchall

The four biggest groups representing the US retail and clothing industry are calling on Uzbekistan to end the widespread use of child labour in the harvesting of the country's cotton crop.

The coalition is urging President Islam Karimov to take "decisive and immediate actions to end the use of forced child labour in the cotton fields" in the world's second largest cotton exporter.

By Tom Burgis

Trade unions in Zimbabwe's neighbouring countries have agreed to ratchet up the pressure on Robert Mugabe's regime by staging a one-week boycott of all goods bound for the poverty-stricken country.

Zimbabwe's economy is already on the brink of -collapse, with inflation thought to be well above the official rate of 2.2m per cent.

A week-long boycott of goods destined for Zimbabwe and Swaziland will be launched next month throughout the Southern African region, Cosatu general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Tuesday.

"We commit ourselves to the creation of an effective momentum for sustained boycotts of goods destined for the two countries, throughout the region, with the trade union movement taking an active lead," said Vavi addressing the media in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.