NationStates Jolt Archive

Reuters, Moo Moo Farm City - In a calm yet enthusiastic ceremony at the Hell Bovinian capital, leaders from major IFTA signatory countries reunited for a small press conference.
"According to major reports made by cientists and researchers from Free Soviets, the economies of IFTA members have shown an encouraging development over the past few years", ministers present at the meeting explained.
As shown in this certainly encouraging charts (see below - made by Free Soviets :P ), the economies of IFTA signatories have been growing almost unstoppably since their joining into the trading block, one of the main trading blocks of the world.
"Yeah, unlike other recently new treaties, This treaty does have an ideology. An ideology based in protecting workers' rights, no matter if the society is capitalist or socialist.", the hell bovinian economic minister, Murk Coincollector, was quoted saying.

"That's why we would like to take this chance to invite all nations that care about protecting worker's rights to join us in the IFTA, one of the few economic treaties of the world that allows your nations to improve your economy without compromising worker's rights"
"As for those who are worried about losing control of their sovereignity, may you not worry anymore. The IFTA bases all its decisions on a democratic consensus and all nations signing it are guaranteed an unprecedent economic growth."


Economic growth displayed by IFTA signatories:

http://67.18.37.15/330/185/upload/photo-4.jpg

http://67.18.37.15/330/185/upload/photo-3.jpg



Treaty Text:
Preamble:

The Coalition of Anti-Capitalist Economies was formed as a co-operative multinational economic platform from which nations concerned to put the interests of the people before the interests of profit can work together to create a strong economic alliance that is fair to labourers. Previously, CACE economies have been closed to non-members. Now, having succeeded in our ambitions and in recognisance that humanitarian interest can be served in adherence to capitalist as well as anti-capitalist economic models, we invite nations of any economic model, capitalist and non-capitalist alike, who with us refuse to treat labour as a resource to be exploited, upholding instead the rights and welfare of the labourer, to create and maintain a growing economic alliance based on fair trade and worker rights.

The International Fair Trade Agreement

In order to advance the cause of fair working conditions throughout the world, the undersigned nations hereby declare the International Fair Trade Agreement.
Any nation, regardless of economic system, may sign this treaty providing they meet the terms as detailed under Section 1.

I. Terms of Compliance

Signatories agree to pass and institute legislation to meet the requirements set in below within 1 year (365 days) of signing this treaty. Full compliance will be assumed from the signing of the treaty, and will be evaluated after one year. Signatories that have failed to bring their nations into compliance with the treaty will have all benefits suspended until they have met the treaty’s requirements. After the first year, any nation that fails to meet the treaty’s requirements will be placed on one year probation, with re-evaluation at the end of that year. Failure to comply with the terms of the treaty at the end of the one year probation will result in suspension of benefits until they have met the treaty’s requirements.
Signatories that meet the upper tier requirements as noted specifically will be granted Trade Primacy status. Primacy grants greater access to markets and resources, and the requests of nations with Primacy status will receive preferential treatment over base level nations. Trade Primacy status is cumulative; the more areas a nation meets upper tier requirements the greater the benefits.
Signatories shall agree to enforce the dictates of this treaty and shall not act in a manner contradictory to the treaty. Signatories must honor the requirements the treaty places upon their nations. Signatories which fail to enforce a section of the treaty, or act in contradiction to the treaty, will be immediately suspended and must reapply for full benefits.

II. Labor Requirements

A. Wages
1. Companies operating within, or doing business with companies within, the signatory nation shall pay their workers a living wage.
i. Living Wage is determined individually for all nations: it is calculated by adding the mean cost of food for the worker and one dependant, housing for the worker and one dependant, electricity, water, local telecommunications, schooling for a dependant and +30% discretionary spending.
ii. Signatories which set a Living Wage 10% or more above the amount listed above will be granted Trade Primacy.
2. Wages shall not be denied for time worked. Companies found to be in violation of this clause will be fined no less than 10,000 WD a day until all back wages are paid.
3. Wages shall be paid on a regular basis not to exceed one calendar month in duration. Companies found to be in violation of this clause will be fined no less than 10,000 WD a day until wages are delivered on an acceptable schedule.
B. Work Schedules
1. The work week is set at 40 hours per week. All hours from 41-60 will be paid time and a half. All hours from 61-80 will be paid double time. No worker can work more than 80 hours a week.
2. Full time workers shall have health and pension plans provided by their employers or the state. Part time workers must have health plans provided by their employers or the state.
i. Full time is defined as working 30-40 hours a week, or 35 hours or more on average for a 50 week year. Part time is defined as working 15-29 hours a week, or 20 hours a week on average for a 50 week year.
ii. Signatories that set a full time work week at 35 hours or less will be granted Trade Primacy status.
C. Workplace Environment
1. No company may operate a business in a hazardous environment. Companies found to be operating inside hazardous environments will be fined no less than 50,000 WD a day until operations cease in hazardous environments.
i. In situations where hazardous conditions cannot be avoided, workers will be fully informed as to the nature and degree of risk, and companies shall have the responsibility for the implementation and maintenance of measures minimising worker risk, i.e. the provision of protective clothing and equipment; provision of adequate and appropriate training; medical and psychological support; maintenance of sufficient staff; other measures as appropriate to minimise individual exposure to a hazardous environment and increase worker safety.
2. Workers will be protected from all types of workplace discrimination and harassment, including but not limited to harassment based on gender, race, ethnicity, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, or political beliefs. Companies may be brought to court on civil charges by individuals for violating this clause.
i. Workers shall not be dismissed on the ground of calling for investigation into workplace conditions. Companies may be brought to court on civil charges by individuals for violating this clause.
D. Labor Unions
1. Signatory nations shall agree to recognize unions formed for the purpose of collective representation of workers.
2. Signatory nations will take appropriate steps to ensure the ability of unions to strike, and must appoint unbiased mediators to resolve disputes if a strike continues for 60 days or more.

III. Investment Requirements

A. International Investment
1. Taxes on foreign direct investment from signatory nations will be capped at 12% in addition to local taxes. Firms must have 66% of their stock owned by local stock holders in order to be eligible for this clause. Nations which set FDI taxes at 6% or less will receive Trade Primacy status.
2. Signatory nations shall institute a 1% tax on FDI, which must be spent on either education or social welfare projects. Nations which set this tax at 4% or higher will receive Trade Primacy status.
3. Investors with residence of holdings in signatory nations may only invest in holdings and nations which abide by the regulations of this treaty.
B. Domestic Investment
1. All companies must be at least 25% worker owned, either through direct ownership of stock or through stock options in retirement investment funds. Companies which are worker controlled, where workers own and vote 51% of stock, will be granted Trade Primacy status. Nations which require companies to be 51% worker owned and controlled will receive Trade Primacy status.
2. Signatory nations will regulate banking investment. Nations which make bank investment in the open stock market illegal will receive Trade Primacy status.
3. Signatory nations will regulate domestic stock markets. Nations which criminalize to felony level trading violations such as insider trading, fraud or stock manipulation will receive Trade Primacy status.

IV. Trade Requirements

A. International Trade
1. This treaty will establish three levels of trade between signatory nations of the IFTA.
i. Primary Trade Partner: This level is the highest level available to IFTA signatories, and is granted on the basis of meeting over half of Trade Primacy requirements. IFTA Signatories must seek goods from Primary Trade Partners first before seeking goods elsewhere.
ii. Trade Partner: This level is available to all other signatory nations of this treaty, but signatories must seek goods from Primary Trade Partners first before purchasing goods from Trade Partners.
iii. Non-Treatied Nations: Nations which are not signatories of this treaty reside in this level. Signatory Nations are barred from trading with them without explicit permission of a simple majority of treaty signatories casting votes.


Current IFTA Signatories:
Updated 18.05.04


Alcibaides
Ancient Races
Anhierarch
Anarres III
Aztec National League
Biedermannia
Biotopia
BLARGistania
Bread and Honey
Brega and Mide
Caselonia
Celdonia
Centralis
Cirdanistan
Constantinopolis
Craptania
Crosshill
Croton-On-Hudson
CSW
Demo-Bobylon
Dragonhenge
East Hackney
Eauz
Equality-Liberty
Fauquier
Free Outer Eugenia
Free Socialism
Free Soviets
Freebodnik V
Galdago
Geneveev
Germanicapan
Hattia
Hell Bovines
Kalaallit Nunaat
Kneejistan
Lemmers
Liberty Waterfalls
Melforlo
Mentholyptus
Monkecia
ParEcon
Patar
Penguisiana
Peripheral Boundary
Ravea
Rehochipe
Sacco and Vanzetti
Sadaway
SeOCC
Shutthehellup
Singes Volants
Southon
Soviet Kevistan
Soviet Prussia
Svea Riga
Szczurlandia
Tanah Burung
Tanukia
Tavast-Carelia
Threlana
Terrus
The Anti-flag
The Fedral Union
The Monkey Queen
The Weegies
Virilebaum
Voxpop
Watfordshire
Wolomy
Xikuang
Zylaxydia


IFTA is open to all nations, regardless of their ideology. The only requisites are to respect and care about worker's rights. What are you waiting for? Join us and see your economy grow in a fair and non-opressive way.
For more info, visit the IFTA forums (http://invisionfree.com/forums/CACE/index.php?act=SC&c=5)

As shown in this certainly encouraging charts (see below - made by Cirdanistan)

Hey!

No, I think we'll pass.

- Elisa Day, Department of Foreign Affairs
The Semi-Autonomous Technocratic Oligarchy of the Most Glorious Hack

Liverpool England has submitted an application.

Marc Newells
Liverpool England Foreign Affairs Minister

We have to regretfully withdraw our application.

Liverpool England Foreign Affairs Ministry

10 minutes... I think that's a record.

Friends,

The people of ParEcon is enjoying an unprecedented economic growth, mainly thanks to IFTA trading partners. The strength of this agreement is that it's not primarily based on ideology, but rather a set of values on working people's rights as human beings.

Sincerely,
The ParEcon General Assembly

As shown in this certainly encouraging charts (see below - made by Cirdanistan)

Hey!

ooh! Very, very, very sorry!!! Someone was either too sleepy or tu drunk last night! :oops:

Following IFTA's standards would drastically reduce the compensation and safety that employees are used to in Ilek-Vaad. The fact that IFTA also does not even touch upon enviromental standards is disturbing. This is not an agreement that we would even consider healthy.

Minister of Economics, Ilek-Vaad

Obviously, Ilek-Vaadian diplomats do not study English sufficiently: a minimum is just that, a minimum.

I understand that. My point was that IFTA's minimum requirements are insufficent. If Cirdanistan's caustic comments are the type supported by IFTA members, then obviously we found another reason not to endorse IFTA.

Minister of Economics, Ilek-Vaad

******

ooh! Very, very, very sorry!!! Someone was either too sleepy or tu drunk last night! :oops:

it's ok, all is forgiven.

The fact that IFTA also does not even touch upon enviromental standards is disturbing.

The point of IFTA is really to be as inclusive as possible while promoting the spread of fair and just treatment for working people across the world. Adding additional rules and regulations on subjects that aren't directly related would only serve to exclude nations that might otherwise join. However, on the whole the enviromental standards among IFTA nations are well above the global norm. And while I don't have hard numbers to back this up, I strongly suspect that nations' environmental standards tend to improve when they join IFTA, requirement or not.
Quinn Delasoto
Not Bored! Economists and Accountants Collective

a fairly traded bump

My point was that IFTA's minimum requirements are insufficent.

While SeOCC certainly endorses economic positions that move the bar higher, this statement seems either hypocritical of disingenuous, given that your government has signed the Kist treaty, which has no requirements what so ever. Could you please explain how the IFTA, which sets strong living wage and wealth equality measures, has measures your government finds 'insufficient,' while you have just signed an agreement that doesn't set any floor or offer any protections against exploitation.

MoE Frontdesk

FAO: IFTA representatives.

Your IFTA has recently been brought to my attention. Whilst I applaud your intentions, I am incapable of recomending the Irregulars commit to this for the following reasons:

Section IIB1: "No worker can work more than 80 hours a week"
Noone is about to tell any of the irregulars what they can or can't do. They are free to work as, where, how and for however long they wish.

Section IIC: Hazardous envioronment.
The bulk of the Irregular population and idustry is based at sea as we have little territory, and are composed mostly of refugees from one place or another. I suspect these conditions qualtify as 'hazardous' under your agreement, but they are unavoidable for ourselves.

Section IIIA2: Signatory nations shall institute a 1% tax on FDI, which must be spent on either education or social welfare projects.
See the objections to point IIB1 above. I refuse to tell my people how they may spend their own money.

For these reasons we are unable to commit the Irregulars to your IFTA.
Please contact me should the situation change.

J. Hawksmoor, PP Irregulars.

Trixia would like to apply, as would Red Penguins :wink:

Trixia would like to apply, as would Red Penguins :wink:

All nations wishing to submit an application to join the IFTA are formally invited to do so here! (http://invisionfree.com/forums/CACE/index.php?showforum=14)

The extremely libertarian position occupied by the PP Irregulars is to be lauded in the level of freedom it allows its citizens, but their consequent unwillingness to enforce IFTA requirements would indeed probably prevent the Irregulars' signing IFTA, alas. We wish them every prosperity.

With regard to statements of concern that the IFTA is not restrictive enough in terms of minimum requirements and that it does not include clauses directly designed to further environmental protection, may I echo the statements already issued by my colleagues: so long as minimum requirements are met, nations are free to set higher standards as they see fit. We, for example, have a standard work week of just 30 hours, with many working fewer, and federal environmental protection regulations which would make most industrial managers cringe.

The minimum requirements set by the IFTA are designed to be as inclusive as possible, in particular, to be attractive to developing nations which might not be in a position to enact regulations enforcing higher standards or more strict environmental policy, but who would benefit from a wide-based, guarateed non-exploitative trade alliance. All evidence suggests that the economic growth typically experienced by developing nations entering the IFTA will allow them in future to improve working standards for their people and better to protect their environment.


Elected General Councillor Zhe Xexin,
Chair of the Elected General Committee for Economic Affairs,
the Serene Socialist Republic of Xikuang

Section IIC: Hazardous envioronment.
The bulk of the Irregular population and idustry is based at sea as we have little territory, and are composed mostly of refugees from one place or another. I suspect these conditions qualtify as 'hazardous' under your agreement, but they are unavoidable for ourselves.

We can't do much about your other concerns, but on this one at least there is an answer built into the treaty.

i. In situations where hazardous conditions cannot be avoided, workers will be fully informed as to the nature and degree of risk, and companies shall have the responsibility for the implementation and maintenance of measures minimising worker risk, i.e. the provision of protective clothing and equipment; provision of adequate and appropriate training; medical and psychological support; maintenance of sufficient staff; other measures as appropriate to minimise individual exposure to a hazardous environment and increase worker safety.

FAO: Free Soviets

Thanks for the reply. The problem is how you define how a worker is correctly informed about the hazards they face, and what protective messures were nessesary. We do place the highest importance upon the safety of our friends, but if addisonal mesures were to be implemented, they would have to be implemented on a national level and the costs involved, both financialy and in reduced productivity could potentialy be catastropic.

I wish I could be of some asistance in your endevours, and I would also like to make clear that anyone flying the Irregular flag may trade with whoever they see fit, and that includes most of your IFTA signatories.
Our people will be fair and just with all who are likewise.
And any how arn't can expect to get as good as they give.

J. Hawksmoor, Irregulars.

Edit: minor correction.

My point was that IFTA's minimum requirements are insufficent.

While SeOCC certainly endorses economic positions that move the bar higher, this statement seems either hypocritical of disingenuous, given that your government has signed the Kist treaty, which has no requirements what so ever. Could you please explain how the IFTA, which sets strong living wage and wealth equality measures, has measures your government finds 'insufficient,' while you have just signed an agreement that doesn't set any floor or offer any protections against exploitation.

MoE Frontdesk

I can explain that quite readily. The Free Republic signed the KIST treaty under the 'Fair Trade' clause, which in fact, gives us the right under KIST to set our own minimum requirements for trade with our nation. Those requirements are then given to all KIST signatories and if they meet our requirements are permitted to trade with us under the KIST agreement. KIST signatories that do meet our requirements are banned, just as they would be had we never signed KIST.

Minister of Economics, Ilek-Vaad

Greetings and Salutations from the Prince of Ägerhet.

His Royal Highness finds that your treaty is, at best, redundant and unecessary, and at worst potentially harmful. All citizens of Ägerhet are free to trade with your member states, both import and export, already. Ägerhet has, as a policy, little or no trade barriers for any reason. (There may be a few left on the books from previous days, but if so they will be repealed as soon as they are found.) The Prince expresses the informed belief that any State which truly wishes to enjoy the benefits of trade should simply remove any trade barriers it has, across the board, and enjoy them to the fullest. Although this treaty poses as a free trade treaty, it's effect seems to be not to institute free trade, but rather to limit trade to a cartel of states which share certain, possibly ill-formed, doctrines and laws instead. In particular, he believes that the provisions purporting to guarantee workers rights and welfare are more likely to damage these laudable goals, and suggests that refusing to trade with citizens of countries that can not or will not comply with these ideological demands will in no way help either those citizens or your own.

For all these reasons, the Prince has decided that this treaty will not be considered for ratification by the Principality. However, he does thank you for the offer, and reiterates that the citizens of the Principality are already free to trade with all IFTA signatories insofar as the Principality is concerned.

His Royal Highness,
Prince Torbjörn Ulfsson of Ägerhet

To the representatives of Ägerhet,

The thing is, about your claims that the IFTA treaty is redundant, that you seem to have misrepresented the position of the IFTA.

Firstly, the IFTA has never claimed to be a free market treaty. Its full name, as you should know, is the International Fair Trade Agreement. Free trade is not the issue, and this treaty does not claim to be a free trade treaty. It seeks to provide economic stability for those nations who wish to treat their workers ethically.

Secondly, due to the nature of the IFTA, citizens of Ägerhet, as non-IFTA signitories, will not be trading with IFTA nations. That is, after all, the point of the treaty.

We hope that this clears up any misconceptions that Ägerhet has made about the IFTA.

Yours,
Kerrie McCann,
Head of the Economics Committee.

Knoot: Can we keep this IC as it has been so far? SeOCC was ICly answering a criticism of the IFTA treaty versus the KIST treaty by Ilek-Vaad, I don't actually see what's wrong with that or how it's 'bitching and flaming.'

Post deleted.

No representative of Ilek-Vad brought up any references to KIST until after SeOCC's representative made a statement comparing the two.

I had been alerted of KIST by Knootoss and alerterd of IFTA by Tanah Burung.

I commented on both and made no comparisons. The IFTA comments were made before the decision had been made to Join KIST. We joined KIST partly because of the hostile response from IFTA members.

Minister of Economics, Ilek-Vaad

We can't help but notice some discrepancies. The representative from Ilek-Vaad claims they did not sign the Kist treaty until a negative response from the IFTA, but this seems impossible, since they signed the Kist at 10:43, May 25th and did not post here until 11:28 of the same day.

The economy of Ilek-Vaad must truely be suffering if their national economic officials cannot afford a single watch among them.

The IFTA has strong provisions to protect workers rights, while Kist has none, and that is the crux of this issue. Ilek-Vaad is free to set their own standards, provided they are above the minimum, in both treaties, which doesn't seem to be a problem; Kist has no standards and Ilek-Vaad's own standards are purported to meet or beat the IFTA's. Obviously there is some x-factor involved in why Ilek-Vaad signed Kist and not the IFTA, but it hardly seems important any more.

The fact remains the IFTA is the world's only fair trade treaty, and given the cold shoulder Kist gives to establishing any form of regulations, the IFTA will continue to grow and dominate.

MoE Frontdesk

That is incorrect, the date you are referring to is the day that we announced that we were considering the KIST treaty. We did not sign it until nearly 24 hours afterwards. I made my comments on IFTA and on KIST on the same day, I signed the KIST agreement, the day after that.

When I first commented on KIST and on IFTA , I was still considering both trade pacts.

You are correct that there is an X factor as to why we chose KIST over IFTA. KIST allowed us to make sure that our trading partners meet OUR minimum standard. Had we signed IFTA, all of the other signatories would be only required to follow IFTA's minimum standards, which I stated before , are below our own minimum standards. There is nothing fair about that.

The other X-factor was the immediate hostility I received when I pointed this out. Why on earth would I apply my signature to a trade agreement where our best interests are not served and the other member nations are openly hostile about that fact?

Minister of Economicvs, Ilek-Vaad

Actually, we did notice two posts, one on the 24th where Ilek-Vaad said they were 'considering' Kist. The first:

Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 9:29 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Free Republic will consider the treaty.

Minister of Economics, Ilek-Vaad

is found on this page (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=147569&start=20), down at the bottom, and the second:

Posted: Tue May 25, 2004 10:43 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Free Republic has signed the agreement.

Minister of Economics, Ilek-Vaad


which is found here (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=147569&start=40) about a quarter of the page down. Of course, anyone can go to the first page and find the comments from Ilek-Vaad that, yes, only showed up at 11:28 on the 25th. Get a watch that works.

Now that we've cleared that up, for the last time, the MoE is going to explain this: you are allowed to set your own standards in the IFTA, as long as they are higher than the treaty's. You are not obligated to trade with anyone if you sign the IFTA, and thus are free to only trade with IFTA signatories that meet your requirements. You can do exactly what you're doing right now in the IFTA, but somehow the first four or five times this was noted, you missed it, so again: you are allowed to set higher standards and only trade with those who meet those standards if you sign the IFTA. Hopefully that's cleared that up.

MoE Frontdesk

Well, since you seem to be obsessing about me and my statements I'll leave you to it.

For the record , Ifta as it is now would not benefit the workers of Ilek-Vaad and I will not be signing it. If you agree with me , great. If you don't agree with with me , great. Let's all remember to take our Prozac and stop obsessing.

Minister of Economics, Ilek-Vaad

After a careful review of the International Fair Trade Agreement, the Triumvirate of the Socialist Republic of Xanthal has made the decision to ask for a temporary membership of five year duration. If, after that time, we are unsatisfied with the results the Republic will let the membership expire and leave the IFTA. If we are pleased however, and the alliance is willing to continue accomodating us, we will become permanent members of the treaty.

All applications to the IFTA should be made atthe IFTA Applications Department (http://invisionfree.com/forums/CACE/index.php?showforum=14). Xanthal's requested five year 'trial membership' is quite doable, as IFTA member may leave at any time without penalty. We look forward to greeting your representatives.

MoE Frontdesk

bumpity bump