Fears of trade protection are unfounded
THE Joint Communique issued after the 10th ASEAN Labour Ministers' Meeting (South China Morning Post, May 17) tends to lead to a misunderstanding about the ''social clause'' which the trade unions are campaigning for inclusion in international trade agreements like the GATT.
The labour ministers' concern that a social clause would be used to impose rigid labour standards as a ''new form of protectionism'' is totally unfounded. Nowhere, and at no time, has the demand been made by the international trade union movement for a ''worldwide minimum wage.'' What is, however, sought to be ensured through the social clause is certain minimum basic rights as pronounced in International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, such as freedom of association, right to organise and bargain collectively , equal remuneration , non-discrimination , abolition of forced labour , and minimum age - child labour.
Calling the standards set by the ILO conventions as ''the standards of industrialised countries'' is a travesty of truth. These conventions are adopted after years of lengthy discussions by the member-states of the ILO, an overwhelming majority of whom are now developing countries.
In a resolution on the question of trade union rights, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Geneva, January-March 1994) appealed to all governments to ensure that conditions should be such that all persons under their jurisdiction could exercise their right to organise and to form and join trade unions for the protection of their interests and to involve representative trade union organisations in effective processes of popular participation and development.
The trade union movement welcomes the proposal for the establishment of a joint advisory committee (JAC) to look into the area of social dimensions. This committee would include representatives of the governments of developing countries. When a country falls short of its obligations, the JAC would recommend measures to be taken within a specified period. The ILO would offer special technical assistance to the country concerned. The trade union movement wants a special International Social Fund established for that purpose.
In calling for the inclusion of a social clause into the GATT/WTO, the trade union movement is simply calling on governments to live up to their obligations the membership of the ILO places on them. In doing so, they would contribute to the growth of equitable social and economic development rather than the creation of increasing numbers of alienated and jobless workers as is occurring now.
The ICFTU-APRO is the regional body of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) which groups together 174 national trade union centres in 124 countries around the world.
TAKASHI IZUMI General Secretary ICFTU-APRO Singapore
