scholarly journals International Trade Agreements and Their Relation to Core Labor Standards

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Shuhong Yu ◽  
Malik Zia-ud-Din
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Labor Standards ◽  
Labor Rights ◽  
International Trade Agreements ◽  
International Labor ◽  
International Labor Rights

The research is an attempt to comprehend with these issues and enunciate an argument that international labor rights and labor standards are a pivotal component of international trade, investment, and development strategy for the well-being of the entire society not only for the wealthy nations. Section 1 of the paper lays out unanimity of labor rights and standards depicted from different sources with evoking instances showing real concerns that have originated with the development of new universal trade. Section 2 illustrates various forums where the international labor rights assertion perhaps induced, through a discourse of multiple supervision or enforcement mechanism available under such forums. Last part of the paper concludes the study and proposes future initiatives to labor rights advocates from all discussions and further recommends new allegiances to international fair labor rights and standards by government, employers, and trade unions entered into a global economy.

scholarly journals Inter-American Court Recognizes Elevated Status of Trade Unions, Rejects Standing of Corporations

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela B. Cornell
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Labor Rights ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
American System ◽  
International Labor ◽  
International Labor Rights ◽  
Legal Entities

3 International Labor Rights Case Law (2017)The Inter-American Court was unanimous in concluding that legal entities do not have the standing to directly access the Inter-American system in a contentious process as presumptive victims. Corporations therefore will not be permitted to access the Court as victims of human rights transgressions, which the Court determined is limited to human beings, with two exceptions: trade unions and indigenous communities. Trade unions have standing as victims of human rights violations on their behalf and that of their members, but under certain limitations. This commentary focuses on the Court’s decision with regard to trade unions, but begins with a description of the heart of the decision limiting the access of other legal entities.

The International Labor Organization in the Stag Hunt for Global Labor Rights

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Hyde
Keyword(s):  
Game Theory ◽  
Comparative Advantage ◽  
Labor Standards ◽  
Labor Rights ◽  
Labor Organization ◽  
International Labor Organization ◽  
Trading System ◽  
International Labor ◽  
Collective Action Problems ◽  
Theoretical Developments

The International Labor Organization (ILO) is not an effective force for raising labor standards in the developing world and could become considerably more effective by taking account of two of the most important and interrelated recent theoretical developments in understanding labor standards. First, countries derive no comparative advantage in the global trading system from most very low labor standards. The ILO should therefore concentrate its energies on lifting these, rather than (as it so often does) concentrating on labor standards that are a source of comparative advantage, the elimination of which is resisted strongly and effectively. Second, the tools of game theory may be used to identify the collective action problems that prevent countries from lifting their own labor standards, and create a role for a transnational agency that may assist them.

Globalisation and the dilemmas of international trade unionism

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Trade Union Movement ◽  
Labour Movement ◽  
Trade Unionism ◽  
Union Movement ◽  
Economic Developments

This article presents the author's reflections on the possibilities of a restructuring of the international trade union movement, on the basis of a collective research project to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) which seeks to open a debate within the movement over the lessons to be learned from its history as a guide for its future action. The most important question facing the trade union movement today is what is generally called 'globalisation', a phenomenon that goes back many years, both in terms of economic developments and labour struggles. From this perspective, the paper examines the basis for the existing divisions of the international labour movement, before going over the work of the ICFTU and of the International Trade Secretariats (ITSs) to achieve the regulation of the multinational corporations and of the international economy, and concluding on the prospects for unity of action in the unions' work around the global economy.

Work Security in a Global Economy

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Rosskam
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Full Employment ◽  
World Order ◽  
Well Being ◽  
International Labor ◽  
Working People ◽  
Work Security ◽  
Global Work ◽  
Equitable Treatment

Work security is a fundamental right of all working people. After World War II, the welfare state became an intrinsic part of the “Golden Age” of capitalism, in which universal prosperity seemed attainable. Workers' organizations frequently played a crucial role in policy decisions that promoted full employment, income stability, and equitable treatment of workers. Today's world order is quite different. Globalization in its present form is a major obstacle to work security. Globalization is not simply a market-driven phenomenon. It is a political and ideological movement that grants authority to capital over governments and labor. This transfer of authority hinders national efforts to promote work security and may impact the well-being of communities worldwide. In the absence of domestic autonomy, international labor standards are needed to protect social welfare. They should be geared toward curbing unemployment, poverty, and social exclusion in the global economy. The article looks at three initiatives to promote global work security.

scholarly journals Reimagining Trade Agreements for Workers: Lessons from the USMCA

AJIL Unbound ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 407-412
Author(s):  
Álvaro Santos
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
The United States ◽  
Labor Rights ◽  
Post Cold War ◽  
International Trade Agreements ◽  
Workplace Conditions ◽  
The Rich ◽  
United States Mexico

A backlash against the post-Cold War order of liberal globalization has taken hold in the rich North Atlantic countries. Concerns about wages, working conditions, and economic opportunity are central to the critique of international trade agreements of the last three decades. While labor rights have progressively been included in trade agreements, they have done little to reshape workers’ well-being and workplace conditions. The new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) may signal a pivot to a new model requiring reforms of domestic labor law and other issues important to workers. However, there is much more to be done to rebalance the power between capital and labor in trade agreements. In addition, for the United States and other rich countries, reform at home may be equally important.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document