
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 24, 1995                   TAG: 9503240115
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Journal of Commerce
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

HUMAN RIGHTS CODE FINISHED

The White House is ready to issue a long-delayed set of human rights principles for U.S. businesses abroad, despite a largely unsuccessful effort to attract support for the plan from business groups and human rights activists.

After months spent trying to court these two sides, the White House has apparently decided to push on without their help, hoping at least to get credit for defying special interests. The principles are expected to be released either today or Monday.

Companies that adhere to the voluntary principles agree to respect the rights of workers to organize and be paid a fair wage, according to sources who have seen the final version. Less controversial are calls to oppose child labor and forced labor, something that most large companies already oppose.

Originally conceived as a global ``code of conduct'' akin to the Sullivan Principles applied to South Africa in the 1980s, the ``Clinton principles'' were proposed last spring to help soften the blow of the president's decision to reverse himself and drop human rights conditions from a yearly decision on China's trade status.

The White House had hoped to unveil the principles during Clinton's trip last November to Indonesia, but at the last minute three big companies that had pledged to endorse the principles got cold feet. When Clinton arrived in Jakarta, demonstrators from East Timor pushed the summit out of the headlines and got international attention for alleged abuses against the Timorese by the Indonesian government.

Clinton left Indonesia determined to shore up his record on promoting human rights and ordered his aides to revive the business code, according to officials working on the project.

By all accounts, it has not been easy. After being deserted by Chrysler Corp., TRW Inc. and Eastman Kodak Co., the White House has struggled to find companies that already have strong human rights policies in place to bless the Clinton principles.

Chrysler may yet endorse the plan, according to sources involved in drafting it, and Boeing Co. has also expressed some interest. Both have been the recipient of Brown's efforts in commercial diplomacy.

Among the aspects of the code most objected to by major business groups is a provision calling for businesses to promote the rights of workers in other countries to organize.

In addition to the objections from business, human rights groups are also likely to object to the Clinton principles as too weak or as misdirected at U.S. businesses.

Business groups who have fought the plan have complained for months that they were not properly informed about the principles and this was also the case Thursday. ``What else is new, we have not been consulted,'' said one.

by CNB