EU sidelines labour abuse complaints

Date: 14/11/1996

By Elizabeth Wise

THE International Confederation of Free Trade Unions' hopes of swift action in response to its complaints about forced labour in Pakistan have been dashed.

The European Commission has decided against taking action now on the complaint lodged 18 months ago. But the next few weeks may bring some satisfaction to ICFTU officials, who are also waiting for the results of Commission hearings into their complaints about child labour in Burma.

Officials say External Relations Commissioner Manuel Marín has decided to send a second mission to Burma to confirm the evidence given by witnesses during the recent hearings, and wants the team to return quickly so that he can give his opinion “as soon as possible”.

The Commission has a deadline of 1 February 1997 for drawing up a recommendation for EU governments on whether sanctions should be imposed against Rangoon or the allegations of human rights abuses ignored. But aides say that Marín wants to present ministers with a proposal before Christmas.

The ICFTU lodged its complaints with the Commission in June 1995, urging that both Pakistan and Burma be suspended from the EU's list of countries benefiting from trade advantages under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).

Commission officials are currently engaged in negotiations with Karachi on a new cooperation agreement to replace previous accords of 1976 and 1986. In addition to closer political and commercial links, the deal would establish cooperation on human rights matters.

Officials fear that pursuing Karachi on forced labour allegations now would throw a spanner into what they hope will be friendly negotiations.