In the News

Importers Attack Uzbekistan Trade With United States

Textile World
08/19/2008

By James A. Morrissey

A coalition of major US importers of textiles and clothing has issued a stern warning to Uzbekistan that it must cease using what they charge is child labor in cotton fields. Uzbekistan is heavily dependent on its exports of raw cotton and cotton products, which account for 20 percent of its exports and 15 percent of its gross national product.

Trade groups oppose Uzbek cotton child labor

Home Textiles Today
08/18/2008

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.

'Mugabe and Mswati III are not legitimate'

Independent Online (South Africa)
08/16/2008

The Congress of South African Trade Unions handed a memorandum calling for a transition to democracy in Zimbabwe and Swaziland to a Southern African Development Community official in Sandton on Saturday.

"We, civil society organisations from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Swaziland, gathered at this meeting of SADC Heads of State in Johannesburg on August 16 2008, reassert our commitment to the struggle for a transition to democracy in Zimbabwe and Swaziland," the introduction to the memorandum read.

Uzbeks urged to end child labour

Financial Times
08/15/2008

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.

Cosatu to march against Mugabe

The Times (South Africa)
08/13/2008

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) will lead a protest march to the summit meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Saturday.

Spokesman Patrick Craven said Zimbabwean and Swaziland civil society delegates took a resolution to protest against the participation of President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and his Swaziland counterpart King Mswati III at the SADC summit.

The resolution was taken at the Solidarity conference of August 10-11.

Cosatu to stage anti-Mugabe protests

The Zimbabwe Times
08/12/2008

By Munyaradzi Mutizwa

South Africa labour movement Cosatu on Tuesday announced that it will stage “‘massive” protests in Johannesburg against President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF regime during the SADC Head of State summit to be held in Midrand, South Africa, starting Friday.

Speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg Cosatu Secretary-General Zwelinzima Vavi said President Mugabe was an illegitimate leader of Zimbabwe and should not claim presidency of Zimbabwe in the presence of regional leaders.

Cosatu to boycott Zim, Swaziland goods

Independent Online (South Africa)
08/12/2008

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.

Labour Ministry lauds Firestone Management

Liberia Broadcasting System
08/08/2008

The Ministry of Labour says it welcomes the signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) between Firestone-Liberia and the Firestone Agriculture Workers Union of Liberia (FAWUL), on one hand, and the Cavalla Rubber Corporation and the General Agriculture and Allied Workers Union (GAAWUL).

The signing ceremony of the Firestone's CBA follows a historic election of the Workers Leadership which witnessed the supremacy of the rule of law and a process of social dialogue.

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