Re: ``globalization'' and poverty

["Alan G. Isaac" <aisaac@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> On Fri, 4 May 2001, John M. Legge wrote:
>> Why is it reasonable to make support of the neoliberal agenda a condition of
>> market access by LDCs to the US, but not reasonable to set out minimum
>> environmental and labour standards (e.g. banning the use of the police to
>> murder union organisers and environmental activists)?

On Fri, 4 May 2001, Alan G. Isaac wrote:
> Opposition to environmental and labor standards
> is strong among developing nations.  You're
> pointing the finger in the wrong direction.

I should be more specific about what I mean by pointing the finger in
the wrong direction.
  http://www.agoa.gov/About_AGOA/about_agoa.html
``The Act authorizes the President to designate
countries as eligible to receive the benefits of AGOA if they are
determined to have established, or are making continual progress
toward establishing the following:  marketbased economies; the rule of
law and political pluralism; elimination of barriers to U.S. trade and
investment; protection of intellectual property; efforts to combat
corruption; policies to reduce poverty, increasing availability of
health care and educational opportunities; protection of human rights
and worker rights; and elimination of certain child labor practices.
These criteria have been embraced overwhelmingly by the vast majority
of African nations, which are striving to achieve the objectives
although none is expected to have fully implemented the entire list.''

You can get the entire text of the Act at that link as well.
(Sorry about the earlier dead link to Thomas.)
See specifically section 104.a.1.F, which sets as a condition:
``protection of internationally recognized worker
rights, including the right of association, the right to orga-nize
and bargain collectively, a prohibition on the use of
any form of forced or compulsory labor, a minimum age
for the employment of children, and acceptable conditions
of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work,
and occupational safety and health;''

Cheers,
Alan