scholarly journals Links Between International Factor Flows and Labor Standards in Malaysia: Findings from a Stakeholder Survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-117
Author(s):  
Evelyn S. Devadason
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Labor Standards ◽  
Labor Rights ◽  
Global Integration ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Activist Groups

This article identifies the dilution of key aspects of labor standards and establishes their systematic links with the global integration of the Malaysian economy through capital and labor inflows. The approach taken in this article is that investors and migrants, may, serve as channels of (lower) labor rights. For this purpose, the study consolidates information through interviews conducted with trade unions, activist groups and non-governmental organizations. The findings suggest that migrants have influenced and lowered the labor rights for the unskilled group. Since migrants have little information about their rights, they are directed into the secondary labor market with insecure and exploitative jobs. They have therefore become a preferred source of employment, “naturally” relegating the unskilled locals into contractual jobs with minimal to no work entitlements.

scholarly journals Does Monitoring Improve Labor Standards? Lessons from Nike

ILR Review ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard M. Locke ◽  
Fei Qin ◽  
Alberto Brause
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Codes Of Conduct ◽  
Global Supply Chain ◽  
Labor Standards ◽  
Labor Rights ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Global Corporations ◽  
Corporate Codes Of Conduct

Using a unique data set based on factory audits of working conditions in over 800 of Nike's suppliers across 51 countries over the years 1998–2005, the authors explore whether monitoring for compliance with corporate codes of conduct—currently the principal way both global corporations and labor rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) address poor working conditions in global supply chain factories—achieved remediation, as indicated by improved working conditions and stepped-up enforcement of labor rights. Despite substantial efforts and investments by Nike and its staff to improve working conditions among its suppliers, monitoring alone appears to have produced only limited results. However, when monitoring efforts were combined with other interventions focused on tackling some of the root causes of poor working conditions—in particular, by enabling suppliers to better schedule their work and to improve quality and efficiency—working conditions seem to have improved considerably.

The Impact of Information and Communication Technology on the Rise of Urban Social Movements in Poland

2018 ◽  
pp. 1354-1375
Author(s):  
Maja Grabkowska ◽  
Łukasz Pancewicz ◽  
Iwona Sagan
Keyword(s):  
Social Movements ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Urban Social Movements ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Grass Root ◽  
Urban Issues ◽  
Activist Groups

The chapter examines the relationship between the use of Information and Communications Technology (ITC) and the emergence of social movements focused on urban agenda in Poland. The aim is to investigate how and to what extent a growing body of smaller activist groups use opportunities provided by the ITC to achieve their political objectives. The research results indicate that Web-based media have helped to raise the profile of local initiatives and increased awareness of systemic urban issues between different groups of grass-root actors. The findings of the chapter are based on the analysis of the Congress of Urban Movements (Kongres Ruchów Miejskich: KRM), a broad coalition of smaller non-governmental organizations and bottom-up activist groups, which use Internet-based tools to network. The results indicate that the Web-based tools increase the members' ability to connect and interact, consequently improving the ability to coordinate joint initiatives, expand real-life social networks, and in the result stimulate the rise of urban social movements.

Part IV Normative Development, Ch.26 Private and Quasi-Private Standards

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Joanne
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Palm Oil ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Normative Development ◽  
Environmental Domain ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Private Standards

This chapter discusses the concept of private and quasi-private standards in the environmental domain. While many of these standards involve the labelling of compliant products, others do not. The chapter begins by defining the concept of private and quasi-private standards, examining their rise and the reasons for this. A standard is considered to be private when the document in question is adopted by one or more non-governmental entities, including for example firms, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and trade unions. Private standards may be firm- or sector-specific, or they may focus on a particular commodity such as sugar, palm oil, or soy. Meanwhile, the concept of a quasi-private standard is less clear and needs to be carefully defined. The chapter then looks at how these standards interact with international law in a variety of important ways. It also assesses the effectiveness and legitimacy of private and quasi-private standards.

Formal Safety Assessment and Goal Based Regulations at IMO: Lessons Learned (Invited Lecture)

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolf Skjong
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Safety Assessment ◽  
International Association ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Maritime Industry ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Formal Safety Assessment

In the maritime industry the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the UN organization responsible for developing international safety and environmental protection regulations. IMO has now developed the second version of ‘Guidelines for Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) for use in the IMO rule making process’. The Guidelines are available as circulars both from the Marine Safety Committee (MSC) and the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC). This standard is, as far as the author knows, the first risk assessment standard adopted in an UN organization. The work with developing this standard was initiated in 1995 at IMO based on an UK initiative. As there have been some attempts to develop internationally accepted risk assessment and risk management standards also in other industries, this paper tries to describe some of the experience and lessons learned from developing and implementing FSA at IMO. Paralleling the development of the guidelines there has been a number of applications of the guidelines, recently focusing on bulk carrier safety. Relevant studies have been carried out by UK, by Japan, by Norway and International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), and by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). These studies will be briefly reviewed with respect to methods used, assumptions made and conclusions drawn. The entire process from the initial terms of reference formulated by IMO to the final decisions is considered. The main conclusion is that the maritime industry has made a lot of progress, quite fast, in the use of risk assessment as part of the decision making process. This being the case, despite the many communication problems that arises in discussing risk issues in international forums. Furthermore, the FSA has helped balancing the often conflicting interest of the flag states and non-governmental organizations present in IMO. In 2004, a new initiative was taken on developing Goal Based Standards at IMO. This initiative was taken by Greece and Bahamas, and has now been debated at three meetings of MSC. The paper will also discuss the relationship between GBS and FSA based on the experience gained.

Labor, the UN and the Cold War

1957 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold Karan Jacobson
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
Soviet Union ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
World Federation ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Cold War

One of the significant structural differences between the organization of economic and social work under the League and under the United Nations is the extent to which non-governmental organizations (NGO's) have been allowed to participate. NGO's have been granted far greater privileges in the UN than they enjoyed in the League. Initially, they were formally recognized in Article 71 of the Charter, which gives the Economic and Social Council the right to make “suitable arrangements” for consultation with them. While defined in differing ways during different periods, consultative status under this article has, subject to various conditions, always included the right to participate in the debates of ECOSOC, its commissions and committees, and to propose items for inclusion in their provisional agenda. NGO's have made extensive use of these privileges. Their use, however, as well as the entire record of NGO action in the UN, has been inseparably linked with the cold war. Russian demands at San Francisco for privileges for the newly created, communist-controlled World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) were a contributing factor in the decision to include Article 71 in the Charter. The initial definition of this article resulted primarily from the interaction of pressures by the Soviet Union and the WFTU and the western response.

scholarly journals The American vision of the Non-governmental Organizations in Iraq

2019 ◽  
pp. 357-388
Author(s):  
م.د.مصطفى ابراهيم سلمان
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Political Development ◽  
Political Transitions ◽  
Topic Area ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Western Concept ◽  
Governmental Institutions

The American vision of the Non-governmental Organizations in Iraq the topic area of that’s paper dealing with Civil Society as concept and practice, its already consider as Western concept and associated with liberalism and political development, they are many definitions of its but most significantly is all organizations, agencies, trade unions and non-governmental institutions, that’s agencies were established after 2003 and received funds from United States and UN development agencies. The non- governments organizations played a significant role as support and develop many cultural, healthy, educational, and social projects, also that’s organizations try to reduction the effects of terrorists actions especially after ISIS seized many cities in North of Iraq. That’s paper will focus upon role of United States of America to support the NGO as main mechanism of democracy and political transitions in Iraq.

scholarly journals After the Foxconn Suicides in China: A Roundtable on Labor, the State and Civil Society in Global Electronics

2021 ◽  
pp. 089692052110134
Author(s):  
Jenny Chan ◽  
Greg Distelhorst ◽  
Dimitri Kessler ◽  
Joonkoo Lee ◽  
Olga Martin-Ortega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Consumer Electronics ◽  
Labor Rights ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Chinese Workers ◽  
National Governments ◽  
The Relationship

We seek to tackle myriad problems of a global production system in which China is the world’s largest producer and exporter of consumer electronics products. Dying for an iPhone simultaneously addresses the challenges facing Chinese workers while locating them within the global economy through an assessment of the relationship between Foxconn (the largest electronics manufacturer) and Apple (one of the richest corporations). Eight researchers from Asia, Europe and North America discuss two main questions: How do tech behemoths and the Chinese state shape labor relations in transnational manufacturing? What roles can workers, public sector buyers, non-governmental organizations and consumers play in holding multinational corporations and states accountable for human rights violations and assuring the protection of worker interests? We also reflect on the possibility that national governments, the electronics industry and civil society groups can collaborate to contribute to improved labor rights in China and the world.

scholarly journals Where Help Is Needed Most? Explaining Reporting Strategies of the International Trade Union Confederation

2020 ◽  
pp. 003232172090324
Author(s):  
Faradj Koliev
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Labor Rights ◽  
Governmental Organization ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Naming And Shaming

How do international non-governmental organizations select countries for naming and shaming? I argue that three focal actors influence non-governmental organizations’ shaming decisions: inter-governmental organizations, governments, and non-governmental organization members. Moreover, drawing on existing research, non-governmental organizations might respond differently to focal actors’ preferences, by either targeting states that have been criticized by focal actors or, alternatively, targeting those who have escaped their scrutiny. To test these propositions, the article conducts multiple interviews and gathers original data on shaming within the International Trade Union Confederation during period 1991–2011. The main findings are threefold. First, focal actors, except governments, have a significant influence on International Trade Union Confederation shaming. The members’ preferences regarding which states should be singled out have the strongest impact. Second, the International Trade Union Confederation is likely to adopt a bandwagoning strategy by shaming states that have been targeted by focal actors, rather than focusing on states that have escaped their criticism. Third, as a result of the bandwagoning approach, the International Trade Union Confederation mainly targets states with poor labor rights conditions.

The Impact of Information and Communication Technology on the Rise of Urban Social Movements in Poland

2019 ◽  
pp. 1020-1041
Author(s):  
Maja Grabkowska ◽  
Łukasz Pancewicz ◽  
Iwona Sagan
Keyword(s):  
Social Movements ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Urban Social Movements ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Grass Root ◽  
Urban Issues ◽  
Activist Groups

The chapter examines the relationship between the use of Information and Communications Technology (ITC) and the emergence of social movements focused on urban agenda in Poland. The aim is to investigate how and to what extent a growing body of smaller activist groups use opportunities provided by the ITC to achieve their political objectives. The research results indicate that Web-based media have helped to raise the profile of local initiatives and increased awareness of systemic urban issues between different groups of grass-root actors. The findings of the chapter are based on the analysis of the Congress of Urban Movements (Kongres Ruchów Miejskich: KRM), a broad coalition of smaller non-governmental organizations and bottom-up activist groups, which use Internet-based tools to network. The results indicate that the Web-based tools increase the members' ability to connect and interact, consequently improving the ability to coordinate joint initiatives, expand real-life social networks, and in the result stimulate the rise of urban social movements.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document