By Martin Banks - 23rd November 2007
SOFIA: Europe’s socialists have called for the EU to commit itself to a "decent" work campaign aimed at eliminating world poverty.
The demand was made by French Socialist member Harlem Desir, a vice president of the Socialist group in the European parliament.
Speaking on Friday at the annual general assembly, or council, of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in Sofia, he said, "There should be no more trade agreements that do not include commitments to social standards, including respect for the rules of the International Labour Organisation.
"Mechanisms for the promotion and enforcement of decent work, including core labour standards, should be included in trade agreements."
Desir, a member of the environment and social affairs committee, called for the European commission to make "specific commitments" and urged a ban on child labour.
Connie Reuter, general secretary of the civic society group Solidar, said that 200 million children under the age of 15 go to work instead of school.
He added that 2.2 million people die in accidents at work every year.
Desir called for widespread support for a “decent work” petition launched two weeks ago in Lisbon.
The petition has already attracted high-profile signatories for international organisations, the trade union movement and government leadership, he said.
Desir went on, "Decent work for a decent life does not mean that we will have a minimum salary or standard retirement conditions tomorrow.
"But we must make a start to help families not just to survive but to live well on the fruits of their labour.
"All workers should benefit from minimum social protection in their countries."
UK deputy Linda McAvan said that tackling poverty went hand in hand with tackling climate change.
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