Labor is Not a Commodity

Demonstrating against Child Labor in Uzbekistan’s Cotton Fields

By Jeremy Silva, Intern, International Labor Rights Forum

Today ILRF joined a number of other organizations outside the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, DC to demonstrate their disgust with the Uzbek government’s use of forced and child labor in the annual cotton harvest.  Over a thousand postcards condemning the Uzbek government’s actions were dropped into the Embassy’s mailbox as a demonstration of the public support for the event.  The sponsors of the rally included International Labor Rights Forum, Service Employees International Union, Child Labor Coalition, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, Not For Sale Campaign, Communication Workers of American, United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers and Workers United.

For those that weren’t able to join the protest, consider signing a petition to stop the use of child and forced labor in Uzbekistan’s cotton fields.

Despite the chilly weather, the demonstration remained live and the rhetoric fiery.  The action began with an expanding crowd marching in front of the Uzbek Embassy and raising their voices against the actions of the Uzbek government.  Slogans such as “Hey, hey, ho, ho, child labor’s got to go!” rang out from the group.  A large quilt depicting the injustice of the Uzbek government was stood up by the protest, while poster-sized photos of the realities of the cotton fields helped expose passers by to the situation at hand.

How to be a Socially Responsible Shopper

Juontel White, Intern, International Labor Rights Forum

Fall season is the time when many companies introduce their newest products. Businesses market new gadgets, designers launch their latest clothing line (as showcased during New York Fashion Week earlier this month) and a slew of eateries open throughout the city.

In light of the fall retail craze and the oncoming holiday shopping season, we’d like you to reflect on an integral aspect of manufacturing: laborers. In every industry—from apparel to jewelry and agriculture—protecting the rights of laborers is of high concern. Many corporations from developed countries produce goods in developing countries, where they often take advantage of cheap labor. Workers earn mediocre wages after working excessively long hours and typically under unsanitary and unsafe conditions. While some companies have implemented fair labor practices, others continue to manage overseas factories in which laborers are subject to work under inhumane conditions.

New DOL Report Lists Products Made Using Child or Forced Labor

Jade Batstone, intern, International Labor Rights Forum           

On September 10th the Department of Labor released an official list of U.S imported goods believed to be produced using child or forced labor. The list was created as a part of the new Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and, for the first time, recognized that the U.S imports 122 goods from 58 different countries that force children and adults to produce U.S. consumer supported goods. ILRF has maintained campaigns around products documented in the report and some goods on the list were included in ILRF’s testimony to the Department of Labor in 2008. These items include cocoa from the Ivory Coast, cotton from Tajikistan, cottonseed, stones, and soccer balls from India, sugarcane from Guatemala, tobacco from Malawi, and surgical instruments from Pakistan. To view the complete list click here.

Sign a Petition to Stop Uzbek Child Labor on Cotton Fields

Brett Eisenbrown, Intern, International Labor Rights Forum

Please Join the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and other organizations to call for an end to forced child labor in the Uzbek cotton industry.  Help send a message to the Uzbek government by signing a petition today!  Supporters that sign the petition by October 2nd will have their names put on a quilt that will be the center piece for a rally that will be held outside the Embassy of Uzbekistan on October 14th in Washington, DC. 

Forced child labor is used every harvest season in Uzbekistan and its time to send a clear message that this can't continue.  You can download posters about child labor in the cotton industry here.

The human rights concerns surrounding Uzbek cotton production in the United States has lead to not only a call for a boycott of Uzbek cotton from consumers, but also my major retailers.  In a article, published in the LA times by U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, it stated that: “More than 25 major brands and retailers have joined the campaign to end forced child labor in Uzbekistan, including American Eagle Outfitters, Bed Bath & Beyond, Gap Inc., JC Penney, Kohl's, Levi Strauss & Co., Limited Brands, Nike, Nordstrom, Timberland, TJX Cos. Inc., Phillips-Van Heusen Corp., Target, the Walt Disney Co. and Wal-Mart.”

US Dept. of Labor Releases List of Goods Produced by Forced, Child Labor

Tim Newman, Campaigns Director, International Labor Rights Forum

As part of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, the US Department of Labor (DOL)  released today a list of 122 goods from 58 countries that are produced by forced labor and child labor.  Find out more and see the list here.  Included in the list are many of the products that ILRF recommend to the DOL during our testimony in 2008, for example: cocoa in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, cotton from Uzbekistan, rubber from Liberia, tobacco from Malawi, cottonseed, stones and soccer balls from India, sugar from Guatemala and surgical instruments from Pakistan.  You can check out ILRF's press release here and our press release about Uzbek cotton with the American Federation of Teachers and Calvert here.

Cadbury Expands Fair Trade Dairy Milk Bars Globally

Tim Newman, Campaigns Director, International Labor Rights Forum

Cadbury announced today that it is committed to achieving Fair Trade certification for its Dairy Milk bars in Canada, New Zealand and Australia by early 2010.  The news builds on Cadbury's previous decision to certify Dairy Milk bars Fair Trade in Britain and Ireland.  Those Fair Trade bars arrived on shelves in Britain this summer.  According to Cadbury, the sales of their Fair Trade chocolate bars will quadruple Ghana's Fair Trade cocoa sales.  This is a big deal in terms of improving the lives of cocoa farmers in Ghana and Cadbury is clearly leading the way among major chocolate companies.

We just updated our "thank you" e-mail action to include the new announcement -- check it out and send a note to Cadbury here!

Get Ready for Reverse Trick-or-Treating!

Tim Newman, Campaigns Director, International Labor Rights Forum

It may still be summer, but it's not too early to start getting ready for Reverse Trick-or-Treating!  For the third year, people across the country will be delivering Fair Trade chocolate and information about the chocolate industry to their neighbors as they go Trick-or-Treating on Halloween.  This fun action is coordinated by a great group of organizations and Fair Trade chocolate companies and we have reached thousands of people through this annual action.  The best part is that you can order your action kit (complete with Fair Trade chocolate) for free online!  You can order your kit online here.  The deadline for group orders is October 1st and the deadline for individual orders is October 13th. (REMEMBER: if you found out about Reverse Trick-or-Treating on this blog, please indicate on your order form that you found out from the International Labor Rights Forum)

What Sec. Clinton and US politicians could say in Liberia

Tim Newman, Campaigns Director, International Labor Rights Forum

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has arrived in Liberia as part of her seven-nation tour of Africa.  During her brief visit, Secretary Clinton focused her remarks on supporting the leadership of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as well as the role good governance and strong security forces play in ensuring a peaceful recovery from conflict.  In addition to Sec. Clinton's visit to Liberia, a Congressional delegation led by Congressman Bobby Rush and including  will visit Liberia (as well as Nigeria, Angola and South Africa) this weekend.

As readers of this blog know, we have tracked labor rights violations on the rubber plantation in Liberia owned by the Firestone tire company, the largest employer and foreign investor in Liberia.  As Firestone's investment in Liberia has historically been a major part of US relations with the country, what can Sec. Clinton and the Congressional delegation do and say to ensure that the rights of workers and the environment are protected as part of Liberia's development process after years of conflict?

Child Trafficking in the Cocoa Industry Continues, but There's a New Way to Take Action!

Tim Newman, Campaigns Director, International Labor Rights Forum

This week, INTERPOL issued a press release stating that they had conducted an operation in Cote d'Ivoire that led to the rescue of 50 child workers on cocoa farms and the arrest of eight adults involved in the illegal recruitment of children.  Eight years after the chocolate industry agreed to  ensure that their cocoa beans and derivative products "have been grown and/or processed without any of the worst forms of child labor," it is extremely upsetting to see that abuses like these continue in West Africa's cocoa industry.

INTERPOL described the conditions these children experienced as follows:

They were discovered working under extreme conditions, forced to carry massive loads seriously jeopardizing their health.  Aged between 11 and 16, children told investigators they would regularly work 12 hours a day and receive no salary or education. Girls were usually purchased as house maids and would work a seven-day week all year round, often in addition to their duties in the plantations.

At the end of June, there was a separate report that Ivorian police officers stopped two trucks filled with 20 children being trafficked in to Cote d'Ivoire from Burkina Faso.

These abuses are unacceptable and chocolate companies must do more to ensure that labor rights are protected in their cocoa supply chains.  These recent stories show how important it is for consumers to take action to demand more from chocolate companies and there's an exciting new campaign action you can do that is perfect for the summer.  Keep reading for more information.

Solidarity with Workers in Niger

Tim Newman, Campaigns Assistant, International Labor Rights Forum

With global outcry focused on the threats to democracy in Honduras and Iran, a "slow-moving coup" occurring in Niger has gone under the radar for many.  While President Obama addressed the Parliament of Ghana last week and said that "we must support strong and sustainable democratic governments," he failed to speak out about the erosion of democracy in nearby Niger.

In late May of this year, a constitutional court in Niger rejected President Mamadou Tandja's request to hold a referendum on extending his presidency another term after his two term limit expires at the end of this year.  In the days following the ruling, President Tandja dissolved both the court as well as the Parliament of Niger and has also reportedly censored the press and arrested opposition leaders.