By Veronica Uy

MANILA, Philippines -- A “concerned” government is preparing an inter-departmental response to the country’s remaining “under scrutiny” by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for possible violations of international labor standards, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque.

The response, Roque said, will be done on the international stage because the entire Philippine government, including the judiciary, is put to task by the USTR review, which could also jeopardize the country's preferential trade status with the US.

By ARIES RUFO

abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak

The Philippines will remain under "active scrutiny" by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) following unabated violations of labor rights and killings of trade union leaders under the Arroyo administration

By Charles Lavery

Their bodies caked in dirt from the river beds they are forced to work in, African children are enslaved in lethal mines to power our love affair with the mobile phone.

The child miners of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) risk death to dig for a highly dangerous ore used in mobiles, laptops and games consoles.

The massive demand for coltan - short for columbite-tantalite - has fuelled a desperate and bloody battle to seize the river beds where it can be mined.

Excerpt from article:

A labor-and religious-backed group called SweatFree Communities interviewed workers in nine countries, including China and Honduras. They say factory conditions range from physical abuse to forced overtime. Illinois buys uniforms from at least three companies linked to the factories.

Victoria Kaplan of SweatFree Communities says Illinois ought to join with Pennsylvania, Maine and New York. They’re organizing to clean up the industry...