[asia-apec 893] Korea Conference on TNCs of Korea in Decemeber - invitation letter

[PSPD]

International Conference on Human Rights in the Context of the Social
Responsibility of Companies


Korean House for International Solidarity(KHIS) in People's Solidarity
for Participatory
Democracy(PSPD) has been monitoring Korean companies abroad which have
violated
labor and human rights since 1995.

KHIS has conducted field research- fact finding - in China Vietnam and
Indonesia every
year, written letters of appeal to companies, organized seminars and
street campaigns for
public awareness.

Recently, KHIS began organizing a street campaign every weekend to
promote the
writing of protest postcards as well as collect small funds for
illegally dismissed workers
since the summer of 1998.
Especially, many students and young people are interested in and support
this campaign.
This is because name brands such as Nike, Reebok, Adidas are popular
with this group
of people, and these companies tend to violate women, children, and
labor rights(such as
low-wages and unsafe working conditions, among others)
Many of these famous name brand companies subcontract to Korean
companies from
Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Srilanka and Central .


KHIS has organised international conference every two years on
independent monitoring
of Korean companies abroad.
This year's conference will be held on 12-13 December in Sokang
University(not yet
confirmed ) with the participation of various social organizations
including trade unions,
labour, women, citizen, human rights, youth, consumer organizations.
During the conference, host organizations will address NGOs condes of
conduct against
companies codes of conduct and action program in the each area like
woman, labour
union, enviornmental group, younth group and indenpendent monitoring
sysytem.
Also we will invite workers from shoe and clothing companies who worked
from TNCs
like Nike and Carfu and Sony.

An important part of this conference is the Cultural Event  and
Solidarity program with
Asian trainees who work in Korean companies abroad. It is an opportunity
for
conference participants to share their experiences, culture, food, etc.
The event will also
be a space to discuss building a network to monitor Korean companies
abroad in the
Asian region.

Attached is a conference program and a PSPD brochure.

sincealy yours
Serapina Cha, Mi-kyung

International Conference on Human Rights and Green Consumerism in the
Context of the Social Responsibility of Companies

1. Conference Goals
▶ Evaluate the monitoring of Korean companies abroad and discussion of
how to raise the social
responsibilities of companies
▶ Create a declaration and campaign for fair trade and human rights
companies
▶ Prepare a domestic network for human rights and green consumerism
▶ Publicize ways to conduct education for youth
▶ Create a network of southeast and east Asian laborers working in
Korean companies abroad
▶ Develop codes of conduct and independent monitoring

2. Program

December 12-13, 1998

December 12(Sat) :
Morning Session
▶Presentation of 1998 Field Research Reports
Experts on Vietnam, China, and Indonesia
▶International Guest Speaker(unconfirmed)

Afternoon Session
▶Discussion on Codes of Conduct
▶Presentation of Case Study of Europe's Clean Clothes Campaign

December 13(Sun) :
Morning Session
▶ Discussion and Declaration Ceremony on Codes of Conduct
▶ Disucssion  posssible action program and responsibily for women and
enviromental and youth
groups
▶ Evaluation and Discussion on Future Solidarity Efforts

Afternoon Session (3 or 4 - 8 p.m.)
Culture Night with Foreign Trainees

We are very happy to invite you and join for the seminar.
If you want to join it, please contact us.

KHIS Tel : 822-723-4255
      Fax : 822-723-5055
     e-mail: pspd at sobcak.kornet.nm.kr


cc: Host organiziation of conference will be consisted by about 15
groups
from civic, human rights, trade union, women, envrionmental groups,
youth and consummer groups.