12 year-old children are forced to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week in unsafe and unhealthy conditions making Olympic merchandise, according to a report released by labour rights group ahead of the International Olympic Committee meeting in London today.
PlayFair 2008 campaign's No Medal for the Olympics on Labour Rights report exposes gross violations of basic labour standards by several Chinese factories supplying goods under license for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
The group claims that With freedom of association banned in China, the workers lack any effective means to defend their rights.
PlayFair 2008 researchers carried out interviews and investigations in early 2007 in four factories making Olympics licensed bags, headgear, stationery and other products.
The companies are Lekit Stationary Co, Mainland Headwear Holdings Ltd, Eagle Leather Products, and Yue Wing Cheong Light Products.
The report also reveals labour rights violations such as forced overtime, workers being instructed to lie about wages and conditions to outside inspectors, poor health and safety conditions, workers required to work 30 days per month and employers falsifying employment records.
"We're so exhausted, trying to get the 'Olympic bags' done in time! To hell with the Olympic products, I am so tired" said one worker interviewed by PlayFair 2008.
Beijing Games licensing is expected to generate some US$70million in income to the Olympics - 40% more than for the 2000 Sydney Games.
"Licensing of the Olympics brand is a major source of income for the IOC and national Olympics committees, and it brings shame on the whole Olympics movement that such severe violations of international labour standards are taking place in Olympics-licensed factories" Guy Ryder, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, said.
Prior to publishing the report, PlayFair 2008 sent a copy to the IOC at its Lausanne Headquarters, calling again for the IOC to adopt and implement effective mechanisms throughout Olympics licensing and supply contracts to ensure respect for fundamental labour standards.
In the previous discussions between the two pariess, the IOC rejected the Play Fair proposals, and to date refuses put in place requirements to respect fundamental labour standards to protect workers from being exploited in Olympics-related production..
"Children and adult workers are being grossly exploited so that unscrupulous employers can make more profit," Britan's Trades Union Congress General Secretary Brendan Barber said. "Their actions tarnish the Olympic ideal, and we don't want more of the same when the Olympics come to London. The IOC must add respect for workers' rights to the Olympic charter.'
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