Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-09-06-Speech-2-166"
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"en.20050906.27.2-166"2
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".
The conflict surrounding the imports of Chinese textiles into the European Union clearly brings into focus the effects of the global free market economy. Competition leads to a ruthless race to the bottom in terms of working conditions. Chinese workers work six long days a week. In those degrading circumstances, it is hardly surprising that they surpass European clothing output. As a consequence, European workers lose their jobs, which results in a lose-lose situation. We should also add the fact that in the poorest countries, 70% to 80% of the workers in the clothing sector are women.
Free trade is acceptable only if countries are comparable in social and economic terms. Until such time as they are, the tough battle between enterprises will claim ever more new victims in the form of mass redundancies and unacceptable working conditions. That is why we must press China, but also the UN and the WTO, for improvements in that country’s working conditions.
The authors of this intervention would like to stress that the high environmental and safety standards are more important than competitiveness. It is therefore unacceptable for the high REACH standards on chemical substances to be lowered in order to remain competitive. Economic success must at all times come second to human well-being."@en1
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