Manpower Inc. Calls On 1,000 Of The World's Leading Corporations

Manpower Inc. Calls on 1,000 of the World's Leading Corporations to Join the Fight to End Human Trafficking Now!

MILWAUKEE, WI, USA, 6 December 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- The fight to end modern day slavery enters a new phase today with a call from Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) to 1,000 of the world's largest companies to help end human trafficking.

In January 2006, Manpower Inc., a world leader in the employment services industry, was the first global corporation to sign up to the Athens Ethical Principles. The Principles declare a "zero tolerance" policy for working with any entity benefiting in any way from human trafficking, including clients, vendors and business partners. The Athens Ethical Principles are an initiative of the "End Human Trafficking Now!" (EHTN!) campaign, built on a partnership of corporations, organizations and committed individuals, and is championed by the Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement. The campaign is endorsed by a host of global organizations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Labor Organization.

"Trafficking human beings is now the third largest illegal industry on the planet, following only arms and drug smuggling," said David Arkless, Manpower Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Special Envoy for the EHTN! campaign. "It is a modern form of slavery and no matter where companies are operating, their supply chains could be benefiting from trafficking. We cannot ignore this exploitation and we encourage other companies to join us in standing against this industry."

An estimated 12.3 million people are forced into labor or sexual servitude every year worldwide. The International Labor Organization estimates that $32 billion is earned annually from forced labor, while sexual exploitation of women and children brings in $28 billion.

Companies can sign up for the Athens Ethical Principles and learn more about the End Human Trafficking Now! campaign by going to Manpower's website at http://www.manpower.com/mpcom/content.jsp?articleid=449 or the Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement at www.endhumantraffickingnow.com.

In October 2006, Manpower Inc. expanded its social responsibility program to encompass a broader range of initiatives that build upon its heritage as the industry leader in workforce development for more than 50 years. The company's expanded social responsibility platform leverages Manpower's history of innovation in providing a bridge to employment for disadvantaged individuals and extends these efforts to additional groups of people in need of assistance. The four pillars of the company's social responsibility platform are: workforce development, disaster recovery, reaching out to refugees and combating human trafficking. For more information on Manpower's global social responsibility program, go to the Social Responsibility section on the company's corporate website, www.manpower.com.