Topic: International Labor Standards
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Charles Willard
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Germany position papers GLIMUN 2009 committees
The Federal Republic of Germany recognizes the disturbing issue of dreadful working conditions for adults and children alike. Throughout the world there are appalling working conditions for laborers. Adults and small children work unbearably long hours on dangerous machines only to make barely enough to feed their families and themselves. The number of children who work in unsafe conditions alone is staggering, ranging in the tens of millions. If this is only the number of children who put their lives at risk to work, imagine the number of adults. This is why the Federal Republic of Germany is calling for work place reform worldwide.
The Federal Republic of Germany humbly requests that countries evaluate their current work regulations and check for the following three principles: first, the workers right to organize in the form of labor unions in order to preserve the voice of the workers; second, minimum age laws to allow children the privilege of education instead of the hardships of work; third, a minimum level of workplace safety and health regulations to shelter the workers from dangerous conditions. Germany recognizes that to some countries labor standards may not be a pressing issue. But, if a country could improve in at least one of these areas it would not only benefit the individual worker but the country and furthermore the world as a whole.
The Federal Republic of Germany is not asking for all countries to follow in its footsteps by means of labor standards. But it would like to see an increase in the amount of better working conditions. The Federal Republic of Germany challenges other countries to set an achievable goal for improving the working conditions of our laborers.
