ICFTU report claims conditions are worsening in Philippine textile industry
According to a report released by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), despite having ratified all eight core labour standards, labour violations in the
The report shows serious shortcomings in the application and enforcement of labour standards, in particular in the clothing and textiles industries, where due to the end of the agreement on textiles and clothing (ATC, formerly called the MFA), the government has exempted the garment sector from the country's minimum wage legislation in order to compete in international markets.
"What we have here is yet another example of a race to the bottom - a country lowering its labour standards in order to deal with the impact of the disorderly end of the ATC. Put simply, countries are being forced to compete by exploiting workers," ICFTU General-Secretary Guy Ryder said.
The report further notes that child labour remains a serious problem in the
The ICFTU represents 145 million workers in 231 affiliated organisations in 154 countries and territories.
