English Unlimited HTL 4/5, Schulbuch mit Audio-CD und CD-ROM

82 Production and industry 06 LANGUAGE SKILLS EXPLORE EXTRAS Read the extract taken from a 2002 Human Rights Watch report. Underline interesting facts and figures. a 25 Child labour in Ecuador’s banana industry The international NGO Human Rights Watch interviewed children on banana plantations in Ecuador and found out that:   children often start working at age 10 or 11.   children frequently work 12-hour days and don’t receive any overtime pay.   they are involved in hazardous forms of work including use of pesticides and fungicides, use of sharp tools, and carrying heavy loads.   they are given little or no safety equipment.   most workplaces have no water facilities or lavatories.   girls are often subject to sexual harassment.   less than 40% of 14-year-olds attend school.   childworkers earn an average of $3.50 per day (40% less than the legal minimumwage in Ecuador). Ecuador is the world’s largest banana exporter, supplying 24% of all US bananas, and 28% of bananas sold in the world. The average monthly wage for banana workers is $56 in Ecuador, compared to $500 in Panama, $200–300 in Colombia, and $150–200 in Honduras. The New York Times reported that child labour is commonplace on Los Alamos banana plantations. Most children interviewed reported that their parents also worked on the plantations but were not paid enough for the family to live on. A 43-pound box of bananas purchased for $2–$3 in Ecuador retails for $25 in the US; Ecuadorian growers earn about 12 cents of every dollar consumers spend on bananas. Growers say this is 30% less than they earned 10 years ago, and that they cannot afford to eliminate child labour or raise wages. By law, in Ecuador, childrenmust be at least 14 to work or employers must obtain court authorisation before hiring children under 14, but the current labour ministry and judicial system do not enforce these laws. Compare with a partner. Did you underline the same things? The report was published in 2002. Has the situation in Ecuador changed since then? Go on the internet to find out. Make notes on the following questions. 1 Which things from the report might mobilise people most to take action to improve children’s lives in Ecuador? 2 Think of two measures people in Austria could take to improve the working conditions in Ecuador’s banana industry. Discuss your ideas in class. In small groups, talk about the following question: Are labour rights human rights? Look at the top of the next page. A large European automobile manufacturer lists these goals and principles for its corporate activities worldwide in its ‘Declaration of Human Rights and Working Conditions’. In pairs, discuss what exactly they could imply and what measures could be taken to guarantee their implementation. Make notes. b 26 a 27 b 28 a 29 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv