EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 33/51

(2004/C 33 E/048)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0538/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 February 2003)

Subject: Export processing zones on the island of Mauritius where goods are produced for the European market by workers who are paid extremely low wages and are subjected to unacceptable working conditions

1. Is the Commission aware that, on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, a former colony of various current Member States of the EU, ‘export processing zones’ have been set up where luxury goods, such as designer wear, electronic goods and cosmetics, as well as tinned tuna, are produced for the European market?

2. Is the Commission aware that the law in Mauritius allows the workers in such zones to be paid extremely low wages in return for very long working hours in unsafe conditions, which means that the people involved cannot lead even a very poor life on those wages without becoming dependent on financial aid from the state and on living in shacks made out of waste materials?

3. Is the Commission also aware that wages and working conditions in such zones have recently become so bad that no Mauritians want to work there any longer, with the result that the jobs are now being taken by immigrants from China, Indian and Bangladesh who, before they even arrive on Mauritius to start work, have had to pay extortionate recruitment fees, so that, ultimately, after many years of hard work on Mauritius, their reward is to be able to return to their homeland still burdened by debt?

4. Does the Commission agree with my conclusion that that the work undertaken does not result in local development but in permanent exploitation which maintains the cost of luxury goods in Europe at an artificially low level, with the result that our prosperity becomes increasingly dependent on permanent poverty elsewhere in the world, which also contributes to the destruction of good jobs in Europe?

5. What contribution can the EU make to ensure that this unacceptable situation is ended at the earliest possible opportunity, for example by advising companies importing such goods and their customers about the conditions in which the goods are manufactured, by banning imports of goods for which prices are kept artificially low and by contacting the Government of Mauritius and the governments of similar countries with a view to zones of this nature being closed down?

Source: TV Nederland 2, ‘Twee Vandaag’ (Two Today) news programme, 12 February 2003.

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 2003)

The Commission is aware of the existence of Export Processing Zones (EPZ), which have played a major role in Mauritius' development over the past 30 years.

The Commission is also aware that, in general terms, EPZs have frequently been criticised for providing sub-standard working conditions and for discouraging unions. In Mauritius the labour market for the export sector was effectively segmented from the rest of the economy, and exporting firms were able to flexibly expand or reduce the labour force in response to changing market conditions. The recent increase in the number of illegal work stoppages in Mauritius' EPZs indicates that the otherwise extensive system of regulation is not entirely effective. New developments in international trade and labour patterns in relation to EPZs could also affect the situation of the EPZs in Mauritius. In that context, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has intensified its work on employment and social policy in respect of EPZs. The ILO has reported on some problems which occurred in Mauritius relating to the recruitment of an employment practices for migrant workers and other issues such as working time (1).

The Commission would not agree that the EPZs in Mauritius have not resulted in local development. The EPZs, together with sugar, tourism and financial services, are considered one of the four pillars continuing to drive economic activity. Mauritius has successfully woven EPZs into its industrialisation process through the establishment of durable links between the EPZs and domestic suppliers, thus maximising the potential the zones offer in terms of employment creation.

The Commission does indeed deplore the abuse of labour legislation in Mauritius, as elsewhere. In this respect it should be recalled that the Community is committed to applying the ILO Core Labour Standards. Furthermore, the Commission has recently strengthened its co-operation with the ILO, which covers the world-wide promotion of core labour standards, the promotion of decent work including poverty eradication and the promotion of the social dimension of globalisation. The Community has also agreed to promote the application of core labour standards in the framework of bilateral and multilateral agreements with developing countries. A good example is Article 50 of the Cotonou Agreement; in this Article, the Community and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States have reaffirmed their commitment to the ILO Core Labour Standards.

The negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreements between the Union and ACP states will be an opportunity to intensify the dialogue and co-operation on how to implement this commitment through concrete actions.

(1) http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb286/pdf/esp-3.pdf.