Trade, Employment and Labour Standards
A Study of Core Workers' Rights and International Trade
- Publication Date :
- 09 Sep 1996
- Pages :
- 248
- ISBN :
- 9789264104884 (PDF) ; 9789264152700 (print)
- DOI :
- 10.1787/9789264104884-en
Recent years have witnessed growing concern over the controversial issue of trade and labour standards. In a context of intensified international competition, alleged cases of child labour exploitation or of denial of rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining in some developing countries have been perceived by some in developed countries not only as a violation of human rights but also as unfair trade practices. On the other hand, developing countries generally respond that these concerns are unfounded and reflect disguised protectionist preoccupations. What are the relevant core labour standards in this discussion? Do countries with low levels of core labour standards gain an unfair trade advantage over countries with high standards? What are the advantages and disadvantages of possible mechanisms to promote core labour standards? This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of these questions and reviews evidence for a large number of countries throughout the world.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Abbreviations
Joint Report on Trade, Employment and Labour Standards by the Employment, Labour and Social Affairs Committee and the Trade Committee of the OECD
-Selection of core labour standards and their implementation
-Links between core labour standards, trade, economic development and employment
-Mechanisms to promote core labour standards world-wide
Introduction
PART I. LABOUR STANDARDS IN OECD AND SELECTED NON-OECD COUNTRIES
-Selection of core labour standards
-ILO Conventions
-UN provisions on workers’ rights
-Observance of core labour standards in selected countries
PART II. POSSIBLE LINKS BETWEEN CORE LABOUR STANDARDS, TRADE, FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT
-Economic properties of core labour standards
-Core labour standards and trade performance
-Core labour standards and trade liberalisation
-Core labour standards and foreign direct investment
-Trade, employment and wages
PART III. MECHANISMS TO PROMOTE CORE LABOUR STANDARDS WORLD-WIDE
-An overview of the ILO monitoring system
-The contribution of development co-operation programmes
-Proposed mechanisms in international organisations
-Regional and unilateral government actions
-International standards for the conduct of firms
-Private party mechanisms
Analytical Appendix: Core Labour Standards, Economic Efficiency and Trade
Annex: Methods Applied in Part 11, "Core labour standards and trade liberalisation"
-Index of compliance with ILO Conventions 87 and 98
-Indicators of trade liberalisation
References