2000.06 IMPROVING STANDARDS FOR GARMENT WORKERS
Whereas:
- Canada is a signatory to the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Labour Organizations (ILO) Conventions; and
- Abuses in the workplace or homework contravene the above Declaration and Conventions; and
- Canada recognizes the problem with sweatshop abuses in Canada and abroad and has appointed a Member of Parliament to facilitate discussions between representatives of industry and civil society for a Canadian Base Code of Labour Practice for the apparel, footwear and related consumer product industries; and
- Any voluntary code, coming out of the discussion, should be reinforced by government policies;
RESOLVED:
- That the National Council of Women of Canada strongly urge the Government of Canada to adopt policies that would complement and reinforce a voluntary code that includes:
a. Corporate disclosure requirements and labeling, including information regarding the workplace where the garments are produced; and
b. Government procurement policies favouring the purchase by government institutions of products made in compliance with I.L.O. and U.N. Conventions and Declarations; and
c. Labour rights criteria for the granting of government support for overseas and domestic investors; and
d. Ratifying all I.L.O. Conventions, including Convention 177 on homework and Convention 175 on part-time work and Convention 138 on children, and ensuring their application in Canada as well as other countries; and
e. Promoting adherence to I.L.O. Conventions by countries producing apparel for the Canadian market, through the negotiation of development pacts tied to the granting of preferential tariffs; and
f. Providing increased support through C.I.D.A. to help groups such as human rights groups, religious groups, women’s groups, and labour groups to strengthen their capacity to play an effective role in labour rights monitoring and worker’s rights training.