DATE=5/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA LABOR (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262209
BYLINE=FRANCES ALONZO
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A private U-S watchdog group, the National
Labor Committee, has denounced what it calls brutal
sweatshop conditions in Chinese factories that make
goods for U-S companies. The group says the U-S
Congress should postpone its scheduled vote on
granting permanent trade status to China until
monitors inspect the plants. V-O-A's Frances Alonzo
reports.
TEXT: The National Labor Committee says young women
in a Nike shoe factory in Guangdong province work a
13-hour day, seven days a week, and earn only 37-cents
an hour. The report says they are confined in a
prison-like compound, sleep eight to a room, have no
health or unemployment insurance, and must show proof
that they are not pregnant.
The National Labor Committee says other big name
companies such as Keds, Timberland, and Wal-Mart, as
well as their contractors, are also responsible for
harsh working conditions and lack of worker rights in
China.
The executive director of the National Labor
Committee, Charles Kernaghan, says the workers are
treated like indentured servants.
/// KERNAGHAN ACT ///
When the workers wouldn't take any more, and
they said look, `we are not working to eleven
o'clock every night, we're not working for
pennies an hour", 800 workers were fired. That's
the example that's being spread across China.
/// END ACT ///
The U-S companies accused by Mr. Kernaghan were quick
to deny the allegation that they are responsible for
labor conditions in China. Wal-Mart accused him of
spreading what it called "lies and falsehoods"
regarding its line of Kathie Lee clothing, handbags,
and other accessories
The U-S companies say their presence in China will
help open it to democratic values. But human rights
activist Harry Wu says the companies are lying to the
American people, and actually do not care about
democracy and human rights in China.
/// HARRY WU ACT ///
Why not just be honest, tell me, you just make
money. You're looking for low wages, looking for
no strikes, no union. Why not be honest, and
say `I'm just looking for the lucrative market.
Don't tell me that you are helping Chinese. I
think the Chinese are helping you.
/// END ACT ///
The watchdog group says the companies should be forced
to disclose the locations of their suppliers in China,
and to allow an independent labor investigation that
would report to Congress. The group urges Congress to
postpone its scheduled May 22nd vote on Permanent
Normal Trade Relations with China. (Signed)
NEB/fa/gm
10-May-2000 19:14 PM EDT (10-May-2000 2314 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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