THE Football Association of Ireland is to ban marketing sports goods produced by child labour. Third World children as young as seven receive about 35 pence for hand-stitching footballs that can retail for £40 to £80 in Europe and North America.
The FAI has agreed a code of labour practice with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions which stipulates minimum standards that sports manufacturers must meet before their products can be marketed as official FAI merchandise. The code applies to all of the FAI's affiliated clubs.
However, the FAI ban will be largely symbolic, as its footballs come from Umbro, which does not use child labour.
Speaking at the launch of the code in Dublin yesterday, the ICTU general secretary, Mr Peter Cassells, said: "Child labour is the ugly face of globalisation which is often hidden behind the marketing hype of billion-dollar conglomerates."
It was the revelation of the high levels of child lab our in the football industry during the 1994 World Cup that led to FIFA and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions agreeing in 1996 to promote an international code.
The FAI becomes the first sports association in Ireland to adopt a code of labour practice. Asked yesterday if it would consider adopting a similar policy, the GAA said the issue did not arise, as it only uses and promotes Irish-manufactured goods.
The Irish Rugby Football Union has yet to take a position, but it says players do not use anything produced by child labour. Balls come from Gilbert Balls in England, while blazers and slacks are made by Club Tricot, an Irish company. Even its Nike sweaters are made in Portugal, not the Far East.
Ireland is the first country where a national code of practice has been adopted by a football federation. Under the code, products of child and bonded labour are banned, as are products from companies which ban trade unions or allow workplace discrimination.
Umbro Ireland's managing director, Mr John Courtney, says his company complies with every International Labour Organisation convention.
The effect of the FAI ban on marketing products is likely to be much more significant than that on purchases. Companies like Nike spend large amounts ensuring that stars promote their products.
Nike spokesman, Mr Graham Anderson, is well aware of the bad publicity the company has attracted, but he said yesterday even organisations like Christian Aid recognise it was making strides to meet consumer concerns.