Longmont Times-Call | 28 Feb 2015

OPINION COLUMNISTS

Trans-Pacific pact will encourage sex trafficking

By Una Stevenson

I agree with the two Open Forum writers that "600 of the largest multinational corporations have written the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement," an agreement which will open up 14 countries on the Pacific coastline for more exploitation.

Having worked as a volunteer since 1999 to end trafficking of children, I have worked with an anti-sweatshop organization and learned that corporations and big garment businesses use sweatshops to exploit workers in Asia, also, in free trade agreement countries: (North American Free Trade Agreement), Mexico, (Central American Free Trade Agreement), Central America and Jordan.

Corporations and big garment businesses use sweatshops and so pay as little as 35 cents per hour for goods they produce. Which brings in large profits for corporations, etc. Also, the goods are imported into the United States in most cases tax free.

The other side of the sweatshops: Parents who work in these sweatshops cannot afford the care of their large families. Because of poverty, many parents sell their children to unscrupulous predators, who use them in sweatshops, and in the sex trade for tourists.

Large numbers of children are trafficked in south Asia, with the estimates as high as 350,000 in India, 40,000 in Nepal, and 29,000 in Bangladesh. (Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights, New York). Also, trafficked laborers work in sweatshops in New York, California, Texas and other states.

The exploitation of workers has not escaped efforts by members of Congress: In 2006 Sen. Byron Dorgan and Rep. Sherrod Brown introduced "The Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act" (S.B. 3485). In 2008 President Obama and Hilary Clinton both co-sponsored "The Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act" (S.367) along with 20 other senators, including Byron Dorgan, who introduced the bill, and Harry Reid, Robert Byrd and John Rockefeller. The "The Decent Working Conditions and Fair Completion Act" (HR 1992) was co-sponsored, in the House by 156 representatives.

Contact Sen. Michael Bennet at 202-224-5941 and Sen. Cory Gardner at 202-224-5941. Please urge them to oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership. They can also help to reduce and limit the numbers of trafficked children.

Una Stevenson is a Longmont resident.