Shoppers asked to remember real cost of toys
24 Nov 2003
Toy campaign relaunced on the 10th anniversary of tragic factory fire
Trocaire and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) will relaunch their successful Toy Campaign today, Monday 24th November, on the 10th anniversary of the tragic Zhili toy factory fire in China.
Many toys are made in Asian factories which produce for multinational companies based in Europe or the United States. Conditions in these factories are often appalling. While some improvements have been made, more needs to be done to ensure people's rights are respected throughout the industry.
Between 1996 and 2000 Trocaire and the ICTU joined an international campaign for workers rights. This was after a toy factory in Zhili, southern China, was the scene of one of the worst factory fires in history - 87 workers were killed. The appalling death figures in the fire were caused by unsafe working practices as well as blocked exits and locked windows.
The Campaign continues to call on consumers to demand fairplay for toy workers by sending campaign postcards to both the industry and government. Some successes have been achieved, such as Codes of Conduct being adopted by some of the large multinational companies involved in the toy industry.
ICTU's Development Officer, Alisa Keane said: "Both the ICTU and Trocaire feel the Toy Campaign should be relaunched. We want to commemorate those toy workers who lost their lives and highlight a global industry in which people have become pawns. It is important to remember that Workers Rights are Human Rights."
Trócaire's Campaign Officer, Lara Kelly stated: "Both Trocaire and the ICTU believe that more change is required if toy workers are to gain basic rights and fair working conditions. Many Codes of Conduct have still not been implemented and often do not include reference to people's fundamental rights at work.
Trocaire and the ICTU are calling for people's support to send the campaign postcards to the toy industry and to the government- so that both can work towards a sustainable solution. We are not asking for a boycott, but rather that people use their consumer power to demand fair treatment for toy workers.
Contact Trocaire and the ICTU for more information and campaign material. Visit our websites: www.ictuglobalsolidarity.org and www.trocaire.org