In the News

Clinton's Fast-Track Proposal Sells Out Labor and Environment

ILRF
09/17/1997

Pharis Harvey

After months of delay, the Clinton Administration announced yesterday a trade legislation package that constitutes a thumb in the eye to the Democratic party, the working people and the environmental interests of the United States. The proposed Fast Track bill would give the administration broad powers to negotiate trade agreements that lower trade barriers, protect U.S. investment overseas, and provide "strong protection" for intellectual property rights. Workers and the environment rated nothing more than an insult.

Stitching Footballs: Voices of Children in Sailkot, Pakistan

Save the Children, UK
04/30/1997

This report details a situation analysis of children working in football stitching around Sialkot, Pakistan. The analysis (1) examined the reasons that children work and the probable impact of eradicating children's involvement and phasing out home-based production and (2) determined a baseline for monitoring changes in children's and families' well-being as a result of a social protection program. Section 1 of the report describes the program developed to phase out children's involvement in football stitching and the study's goals.

Six Cents an Hour (1996 Life Article)

Life Magazine
03/28/1996

 

Learn about ILRF's current work on child labor here.

1996

As our jeep approaches the roadside shed in Mahotra, a village in northern Pakistan, I can see a dozen children and men stitching hexagonal leather pieces into Nike soccer balls. Twelve-year-old Tariq squats in front, having come out of the dank interior for air. At his feet are several white balls with the distinctive Nike swoosh that will soon be finding their way to stores and playing fields in the United States.

Massive Layoffs Signal Global Depression: Review of Labor Situation in the Philippines

Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research, Inc.

The current deep recession that is expected to lead into a severe depression has began to kick into high gear in the Philippines in the first few weeks of the new year, portending worse things to come for the country's 36-million strong labor force. Despite the government's claims at "safeguarding" the workers "amidst the global storm", the people and the ordinary workers will evidently be made to bear the heaviest blows of the crisis.

From bad to worse

Ikea under fire over Turkish supplier

The Local (Sweden)

Swedish furniture giant Ikea and US retailer Wal-Mart was among several international companies criticized by a Norwegian group for what it deemed "unacceptable" working conditions at a Turkish supplier.

Home textile product supplier Menderes Tekstil had threatened and fired employees who showed interest in joining a union, said Framtiden i Våre Hender (The Future in Our Hands), which focuses on ethical and climate issues.

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