EURO-MPs have adopted an emergency resolution calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure all Olympic-branded sportswear is manufactured in accordance with International Labour Organisation (ILO) minimum standards and international human rights law.
London Green Party MEP Jean Lambert, who proposed the resolution, said: "The Olympic Games represent international solidarity and equality of opportunity more than any other sporting event.
"We must make sure this symbolism doesn't mask an event part-funded with the proceeds of human rights abuses. The sweat must be on the athletes - not the workers behind the scenes."
The resolution, which calls on the EU to devise strategies for ending sweatshop conditions in the developing world - and give more cash to the ILO to fund a credible and workable inspection system for developing world factories - was adopted with cross-party support in Strasbourg.
It is also calls on the European Commission to press the IOC to adopt labour rights into its statement of fundamental principles, the Olympic Charter, and to require host nations to take direct steps to maintain labour standards themselves.
Though the resolution has come too late to for the Athens Games later this year Euro-MPs hope the IOC will adopt their proposals in time to improve conditions for garment factory workers in China before the Games are held there in 2008 - and ensure all Olympic-branded merchandise is 'sweatshop free' before the planned London Games in 2012.
London Green Party MEP Jean Lambert, one of the resolution's proposers, said there was no excuse for sweatshop labour at the world's most prestigious sporting event.
"Conditions
for workers in some factories producing sportswear for consumption in the EU are
infamously poor. In the worst cases women have been forced to work 20 hour days
without proper breaks, workers been held captive in factories - and been not just
sacked - but beaten - for trying
to start a union."
"Despite ILO resolutions and the industry's own well-meaning but often toothless 'Code's of Conduct', labour rights - and fundamental human rights - are all too often violated in the sweatshops serving the globalised sportswear industry.
"Today's resolution calls on the IOC to take responsibility for upholding the rights of those producing Olympic branded goods.
"If not the IOC that manages the Olympics brand, who else will take responsibility? Most consumers haven't got the information they need to do so, and most manufacturers have sought to deny any effective responsibility for - let alone complicity in - the appalling conditions in their subcontractors' factories."
ENDS
Note to Editors: Full text of the Resolution, which was adopted by MEPs today, is available on request For more information please contact Ben or Katy on 020 7407 6280, 07973 823358 or at press@greenmeps.org.uk