LABOUR CODE FOR FOOTBALLS

Zurich, 3 September 1996 - FIFA and representatives of the international trade union movement (from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions ICFTU, the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation ITGLWF, and the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees FIET) have agreed on the text of a Code of Labour Practice for the production of footballs carrying the FIFA authorised marks, in a continuing effort to eliminate the use of child labour and other exploitative practices.

The Code is also to be presented to the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry, which will be holding a special conference on child labour in London in November, with a view to engaging the industry's active cooperation and support in this process.

In addition to agreeing on the text of the Code of Labour Practice, FIFA and the Unions also concurred on the necessity for effective independent monitoring to ensure that its principles were respected at all levels of the industry, and discussed practical ways of achieving this. There was also discussion of the introduction of alternative education and training for children removed from the football producing industry, and the meeting welcomed a written statement from the United States Secretary of Labor, Robert B. Reich, confirming support for such a programme.

The meeting in Zurich was also attended by the Deputy Director General of the International Labour Office, Mr. Kari Tapiola, invited by FIFA and the unions as an observer. The meeting recognised the importance of the continuing support of the ILO in achieving, as rapidly as possible in view of the complex difficulties involved, the objective of putting a stop to the exploitation of children and their replacement in the workforce by unemployed adults..

Enquiries to be addressed to:
FIFA Media Office
Tel: +41-1/384 9595
Fax: +41-1/384 9696

FIFA Communications Division
Zurich; 3 September 1996

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