The Strange case of Mandelson and Colombia
Barckley Sumner Sat Nov 04, 2006 at 11:07:34 AM GMT 
Facebook
Peter Mandelson is giving Colombia extra trade rights because of its supposed excellent union rights. As the Sun would say, you couldn't make it up!
Colombia is the most dangerous place in the world to be trade unionists. Nearly 500 trade unionists have been murdered since the current Colombian president Alvaro Uribe took office in 2002. Most trade unionists have been murdered by right-wing paramilitaries who work in close association with Government forces.
The European Commission is assisting the General System of Preferences scheme, which makes their imports largely exempt form customs duties. In fact Colombia has been awarded GSP plus status. This gives Colombia additional trade benefits, due to its supposed compliance with International Labour Organisations Conventions.
At an ILO meeting last year, Mr Mandelson, said: "If Europe must have a stronger social dimension so should its trade policies. Under the new GSP Plus, additional tariff preferences will be available to vulnerable countries which have both ratified and implemented the main international UN and ILO conventions on labour and human rights."
Although Colombia may have ratified ILO conventions there is no evidence that they are adhered to. The ILO itself in its latest report into Colombia found that the Government was not in compliance with key labour standards. The ILO is attempting to establish a permanent office in Colombia, in order to push the country to improve its human rights record. An initiative, which the Colombian Government is trying to block.
Richard Howitt Labour MEP for Eastern England, has launched a campaign to try to deprive Colombia of its GSP plus status until it dramatically improves its human and trade union rights record. He believes that the withdrawal of the preferential treatment should be held like a "sword of Damocles" over the Colombian Government. In 1997 the EU removed Burma from the GSP scheme because of its forced labour practices.
Mr Howitt, said: "Everyone who cares about protecting workers rights in the world should mount a campaign to review Colombia¹s GSP+ status. Otherwise a country which murders its trade unionists will continue to appear to be rewarded for doing so."
Last week Tribune revealed that Weber Shandwick the company run by Mr Mandelson¹s former deputy Colin Byrne, had recently won a contract from the Colombian Government to provide PR advice. Despite several calls the European Commission were unable to answer questions on how and why Colombia had been granted their GSP plus status.
