20-1-10 The government has been accused of putting industry before human rights and the environment by allowing taxpayer money to be used in areas where standards are being watered down. Amnesty International, The Corner House, Jubilee Debt Campaign and WWF UK have spoken out against proposals that would possibly direct money towards funding child labour and lessening the impact of the ‘Business Principles’ instituted by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD). They believe that such practices would be a dramatic slide backwards in having companies reduce their damaging impact on human rights, poverty and climate change in poorer states.

The prohibition on “harmful child labour” and forced labour is to be replaced with a discretionary ban under certain circumstances. The source of this move seems to be pressure from UK exporters who wanted modification of the Business Principles, if not their elimination. Campaigners are greatly concerned that this will come at the expense of increased poverty, environmental damage and rights abuses the entire world. At the moment many believe that the ECGD is there to benefit the arms sector and fossil fuel industry among others. Such a watering down as proposed would greatly undercut the UK’s desired status as a state that leads the way in such areas.