UK COMPANIES ABROAD

Early day motion 718, tabled 11 October 2005 by Alan Meale (Labour). Signed by 43 members.

That this House notes that a number of UK-based companies are ignoring the conditions of their workers based in poor countries abroad; further notes that the Government is currently allowing such companies to decide for themselves how responsibly they behave towards their workforces, which has led to exploitation, particularly of women and children who have been forced to work in many cases for wages as little as 21 pence per day; and calls upon the Government to introduce a Bill to protect such people by making it a statutory responsibility for all UK companies to adopt responsible minimum standards for wages and conditions of their overseas workforces.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, Liberal Democrat 5, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.