The World Day for Decent Work on October 7 will mark the launch of a twin-track campaign by the ITGLWF and its affiliates to link the right to organise and bargain collectively with the demand for a living wage in the sector.

A month before the start of the Beijing Olympics key sporting goods brands including Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Umbro and Speedo are forming a ground breaking joint working group with trade unions and NGOs to explore amongst other issues how to promote trade unionism and collective bargaining as well as improving wages across the sector.

Over 30 Asian and global trade union officials and leaders, attending the Playfair 2008 Conference on Decent Work in the Global Sportswear Industry marched today in Hong Kong in solidarity with the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions to call for democracy in Hong Hong.