CLB whole heartedly endorses the Catch the Flame initiative launched today by Play Fair 2008.
Catch the Flame is a virtual torch relay supported by a global alliance of trade unions, non-governmental organizations, labour groups and concerned individuals, designed to draw attention to the maltreatment and exploitation of workers in the merchandise industry of the Olympic Games in Beijing (2008), Vancouver (Winter 2010) and London (2012).
 |
|
 |
The state of the labour movement in China |
| CLB presents a detailed examination of the current struggle for workers’ rights in China at an international conference to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which opened in Paris on 4 December. Photo by Saad Akhtar. | |
 |
|
|
Migrant workers cheated out of 230,000 yuan – harassed and beaten by thugs |
| Migrant workers in a food processing plant in Shandong worked 15-hour days in hazardous conditions, abused and exploited by management. During the final wage settlement, the boss hired local gangsters to intimidate and beat up the workers, even threatening to kill anyone who refused to accept the deal. | |
 |
|
|
No Way Out: A report on the human cost of China’s economic miracle |
| A new report by CLB and Canada’s Rights and Democracy reveals how the lives of millions of workers were thrown into turmoil during the wholesale privatization of China’s state-owned enterprises in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Photo of abandoned SOE in Liaoning by Sonya@flickr.com | |
 |
|
|
Dongguan court’s dubious ruling in Nokia HBV discrimination case |
| A Dongguan court on 22 October 2008 ruled against a plaintiff who was seeking 500,000 yuan in psychological damages after being refused employment at Nokia (China) because of his Hepatitis B (HBV) status. However, key evidence was not heard by the court. Photo by Pierrick Blons | |
 |
|
|
Strikes trigger search for a long-term solution to China’s taxi industry woes |
| A significant feature of this month’s taxi strikes has been the swift and usually conciliatory response of the local government. However, short-term government intervention cannot provide a lasting solution to the problems of excessive fees and unlicensed cabs. Photo of Chongqing taxi by DCF pics @ flickr.com | |
