The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX
Olympiad (BOCOG) announced the investigation results on labor
issues in four licensees.
In June this year, after FairPlay 2008 released a report on
alleged labor abuses in four licensees, BOCOG attached great
importance to the issue and immediately requested that the four
companies provide detailed information and explanations on the
situation.
Relevant labor administrative departments at national and
provincial levels also responded quickly. Local municipal
authorities in Dongguan and Shenzhen formed a special team to
conduct comprehensive investigations from June 12th to 18th and
delivered an extensive report on the issue. From the end of June
till the beginning of July, investigation teams from Guangdong
Labor and Social Security Bureau, the Ministry of Labor and Social
Security and BOCOG further reviewed the results of the
investigation reports and have now concluded the investigation.
The report shows that from January to February, 2007, Le Kit
Stationery Co. Ltd (Dongguan), was believed to have used child
labor by employing 8 students for packaging work, which was not
related to Olympic products. In addition, labor contracts were not
signed with some of its workers. BOCOG has decided to terminate Le
Kit Stationery Co.'s right to manufacture and sell Olympic licensed
products and revoked its licensing contract with the company.
Besides, Eagle Leather Products (Dongguan), Yue Wing Cheong
Light Products (Shenzhen) and Mainland Headwear Holdings Ltd.,
(Shenzhen) had overtime issues, but no child labor issues were
discovered. BOCOG has decided to suspend approval of all Olympic
products designing of the three licensees, and requested they
rectify their production and business operations in accordance with
local labor bureaus' requirements immediately.
BOCOG restated it attaches great importance to working
conditions and corporate social responsibility issues in licensees'
companies. BOCOG will, in line with its licensing agreement,
seriously deal with any licensees who have violated national labor
laws and regulations.
(BOCOG July 31, 2007)