Discussion of other group's reports on globalisation.

We found that our situation is generally similar to the other countries, especially Kenya. Key areas of similarity:

• poor and declining working conditions
• Increasing inequality, poor getting poorer and rich getting richer.
• Privatisation of state enterprises and services
• Increase in crime and civil violence generally.
• retrenchments

As participants were did not have lots of knowledge about TNC's in our own country. Because we are also a developing country like Kenya, we found our government's actions like their's is similar in order to attract foreign investment.

We do agree with the opinions of other groups on TNCs. We noted that the modern technology which they introduce appears to be advantageous, but also causes job losses.

We have also noted an increase in child labour and we suspect that this is related to globalisation as bosses try to reduce labour cost in order to be competitive.

Similarly, health and safety standards are declining, wages are being lowered and there is an increase in unorganised and unprotected labour.

We would like to discuss further the ideas of the Kenyan group regarding workers taking over state companies instead of privatisation. Our questions to them are:

• Are workers meant to take full ownership and control?
• How is it going to work?
• Will their "business" survive the capitalist pressures?

Also, we well reminded by our Kenyan comrades that women generally tend to suffer more due to globalisation, especially in developing countries.

In the case studies regarding responses to globalisation, we noted the following and were concerned about:

• The ability of the European works councils to organise strikes and was this allowed in EU laws.
• We do think that there are possibilities for promoting international solidarity, only if the approach is similar to the IUF.
• They are confined to companies based in Europe.
• They could undermine the strength of the unions.

They can however:

• Promote information sharing and exchanges between workers.
• They also have greater access to company information

We supported the idea of global company councils (GCCs) to facilitate information exchanges and organised international solidarity action, especially around the activities of TNCs.

GCCs could also play a role in monitoring and enforcing labour standards.

They should negotiate minimum standards on wages and conditions of employment for TNC's internationally.

Concerns about Global Company Councils:

• Who would serve on them?
• What are our selection criteria?
• We need guidelines for representation and accountability.

What methods can workers use to counter-act the effects of TNCs operations?

• Trade union to trade union links, including global company councils.
• International trade union mergers and closer co-operation.
• International political and social alliances.