1.   Fireworks are expected over Western demands to promote labour standards in order to curb such practices as child and prison labour and guarantee union rights.

2.   Heribert Maier, deputy director general of the International Labour Organisation, said both developed and developing nations needed to respect fundamental labour standards.

3.   India, which had previously opposed any mention of labour standards in the final declaration, softened its stance, clearing the way for a compromise.

4.   In particular, they fear that labour standards could be used as a form of protectionism to erode the competitiveness of developing countries.

5.   India, which had previously opposed any mention of labour standards in the final declaration, appeared to soften its stand, clearing the way for a compromise.

6.   -- A statement committing WTO countries to protection of core labour standards such as the right to have unions and the rejection of child and slave labour.

7.   A French official also reported progress on the labour standards issue, which has been jointly championed by the United States, France and Norway.

8.   A senior ILO official said recently that the UN organisation had already begun a study on whether there should be a link between labour standards and trade.

9.   All participants except Pakistan and India meanwhile reached a consensus that core labour standards will be included in the declaration.

10.   ASEAN asked its seven dialogue partners to increase commerce and investment but repeated warnings against linking such issues as labour standards, human rights and environmental protection to trade.