December 22, 2006	Friday	Ziqa’ad 30, 1427

PARIS, Dec 21: France Telecom signed an agreement on Thursday with trade unions covering basic labour rights for its 200,000 staff, of whom 80,000 work in 170 countries other than France, union sources said.

Under the global framework agreement (GFA), the company refuses to be involved with forced labour and work by, or exploitation of, children, to combat discrimination, to be vigilant about health and safety at the workplace, and to respect trade union freedoms and social dialogue.

The company also committed itself to providing opportunities for staff to be appointed to posts internationally on a voluntary basis, to have access to training, the right to paid holidays, flexibility of work schedules, the principle of fair pay and of equal pay between men and women.

—AFP