Joint motion for a resolution - RC-B5-0191/2004Joint motion for a resolution
RC-B5-0191/2004

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

21 April 2004

pursuant to Rule 50(5) of the Rules of Procedure, by
replacing the motions by the following groups:on respect for core labour standards in the production of sports goods for the Olympic Games

Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
RC-B5-0191/2004
Texts tabled :
RC-B5-0191/2004
Debates :
Texts adopted :

European Parliament resolution on respect for core labour standards in the production of sports goods for the Olympic Games

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 86th session on 18 June 1998,

– having regard to the ILO Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy,

– having regard to the EU Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises,

– having regard to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational enterprises,

– having regard to the UN Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises with regard to Human Rights,

– having regard to the Commission communication to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee entitled 'Promoting core labour standards and improving social governance in the context of globalisation' (COM(2001) 416),

– having regard to the Commission communication (COM(2001) 366) and to its own resolution of 30 May 2002 on the Green Paper on promoting corporate social responsibility,

– having regard to the Fundamental Principles of the Olympic Charter, which state that Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles,

– having regard to Rule 50(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas evidence shows that the production of sportswear and athletic footwear is organised through an elaborate international system of subcontractors and suppliers,

B. whereas the failure to respect ILO labour rights perpetuates poverty, hampers development by driving wages down and denying education and is a violation of human dignity,

C. whereas many sportswear companies have pledged voluntary ethical codes of conduct, but such ethical commitment has not yet been integrated generally with all their core business practices and sourcing strategies for their global supply chains,

D. whereas some leading sportswear companies and socially responsible investment firms have stated that the current ruthless business and labour practices in the global supply chain are unsustainable and do not allow fair competition,

E. whereas there is growing consumer concern about certain abusive employment and working conditions which are prevalent in the global supply chain of some sportswear brands,

1. Calls on sportswear companies to adopt sourcing policies that call for suppliers and their subcontractors to respect internationally recognised labour standards, including all the human rights standards identified by the ILO as constituting fundamental rights at work, plus the right to a living wage based on a regular working week, humane working hours with no forced overtime and a safe and healthy workplace free from harassment;

2. Calls on the Commission, in the run-up to the Olympics, to ask the key players of the world sportswear and athletic footwear industry – sportswear brands, the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry, and the IOC – to start negotiations aiming at a sectoral solution fully complying with ILO labour standards;

3. Urges the ILO to develop a credible and independent inspection system in order to monitor the ILO labour standards in the sporting goods industry world-wide and based on the above inspection system;

4. Calls on sportswear companies to take immediate steps to ensure specifically that the right of workers to form and join trade unions is respected throughout their respective supply chains;

5. Calls on suppliers and manufacturers of sportswear and athletic footwear to adopt labour practices that provide working conditions which comply with international labour standards and national labour legislation;

6. Calls on the Commission to work with the ILO to ensure that the IOC includes respect for internationally accepted labour rights in its Fundamental Principles, the Olympic Charter, and its Code of Ethics, and to insist that the IOC require, as a contractual condition in its licensing, sponsorship and marketing agreements, that labour practices and working conditions involved in the production of IOC-branded products comply with  internationally recognised labour standards, including all the human rights standards identified by the ILO as constituting fundamental rights;

7. Urges the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry to commit itself to stating publicly that the sportswear and athletic footwear industries need to come forward with concrete and identifiable measures for a sectoral solution aiming at full compliance with ILO labour standards;

8. Considers that more funds should be made available to the ILO's International Programme;

9. Considers that respect for fundamental rights at work requires not only that the ILO be involved, but also that strategies to promote core labour standards find a place within the WTO;

10. Stresses also the importance of increased consumer awareness and the development of social and fair-trade labelling in creating incentives for multinational enterprises to improve working conditions;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the old and new Member States, the Commission, the International Olympic Committee, the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry and the International Labour Organisation.