News about the Play Fair 2008 Campaign |
Campaigners call on Beijing Olympics Committee not to Cancel Factory Contracts |
Monday, 11 June 2007 | |
The PlayFair 2008 campaign group has reacted with deep concern at media reports that the Beijing Olympics Organising Committee is planning to cancel contracts with companies highlighted in this week's report "No Medal for the Olympics on Labour Rights". PlayFair 2008 calls upon the IOC to not stand by and let the Beijing Olympics Committee cut and run from these factories and leave workers in the lurch; instead the IOC should engage in positive action to improve conditions for workers producing goods bearing the Olympic logo.
Brussels, 11 June 2007: The PlayFair 2008 campaign group has reacted with deep concern at media reports that the Beijing Olympics Organising Committee is planning to cancel contracts with companies highlighted in this week's report "No Medal for the Olympics on Labour Rights". "The workers in these factories have been subjected to serious exploitation - the Beijing Games Committee should insist that the companies respect the fundamental rights of these workers, and should not cut and run from a problem for which the Olympics movement and particular the IOC itself must take full responsibility. We call upon the Beijing Committee not to end the contracts and thus cause further harm to the workers, but to join efforts to get the IOC and the worldwide Olympics movement to ensure fair play for the people who make Olympics licensed products. Unilateral action will not work " it will only mean that workers lose their jobs, and there is no guarantee that the next lot of factories would respect workers’ rights either," according to PlayFair. |