Ban the import of goods produced with slave labour
Last year, Trade Aid ran a camapign to petition Parliament to ban the importation of goods produced with slave labour. The petition attracted 17,000 signatures. The Foreign Affairs, Defence & Trade committee has now reported back on the petition, but recommended no real action.
This seems to be a perfect opportunity for a member's bill which would attract widespread public support.
Relevant legislation
Prohibited imports are listed in schedule 1 of the Customs and Excise Act 1996.
Potential changes
Add "Goods manufactured or produced wholly or in part by slave labour" to the schedule.
Problems
- Such a ban may violate our obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The select committee report notes that GATT Article XI would prohibit such a ban, but that Article XX may allow then to be banned on the grounds of "protecting public morals". It would also allow them to be banned had they been made in a prison, but not if slavery is simply a part of ordinary economic conditions in a country (!). National and Labour may therefore be reluctant to support it.
page revision: 2, last edited: 08 May 2009 12:20
I seriously don't think anyone would have traction arguing against a bill that opposes slave labour. If they're stupid enough to protest the media backlash would come fast and hard, and GATT itself would probably end up ripe for reform.
I don't see how this wouldn't be the easiest suggestion on this site to sell so far.
It would also be good to ban the importation of goods made by child labour- which would also have the advantage of being in keeping with ILO Coventions http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Action/Legal/Conventions/lang--en/index.htm
Probably best to do that as a seperate bill; I've drafted both.
This is now in the ballot, fronted by Maryann Street.
And its been drawn. Our first victory!
Now to see if it gets passed…
May it be the first victory of many!
On a related tangent I thought this recent decision was interesting http://www.yorku.ca/ddoorey/lawblog/?p=1234 Some of the workers of Walmart's suppliers in other countries tried to hold Walmart legally accountable for abuses they'd suffered based on Walmart's "Standards for Suppliers". The Court rejected all their arguments & said the Code doesn't create any legal obligation for Walmart at all- which just goes to show that counting on voluntary Corporate Social Responsibility to further human rights objectives as the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee seems to be recommending on the Trade Aid petition, is a pretty feeble hope.
Voted down 63-58. National and ACT voted for slavery. Can I call them rude names yet?