Madam, - Your business section reported last Friday that the authorised sale of licensed Olympic merchandise will generate an estimated €530 million this year.
Much of this merchandise will consist of sportswear produced by women in terrible conditions in sweatshops in the developing world. They work long hours, with compulsory overtime, for very little pay, often also enduring abuse and discrimination. The Olympic movement has the opportunity to use its clout to end these practices by ensuring that its deals with sportswear manufacturers respect labour rights.
Despite the welcome from the Olympic Council of Ireland for this message, the International Olympic Committee refuses to deal directly with trade unions and NGOs campaigning for workers' rights in the sportswear industry.
They should do so now and truly live up to the spirit and ideals of the Olympics. For information on the global campaign for workers rights in the sportswear industry, readers should log on to www.fairolympics.org. - Yours, etc.,
COLIN ROCHE,
Advocacy Officer,
Oxfam Ireland;
DAVID JOYCE,
Congress Global Solidarity,
ICTU,
Dublin 1.