Description
Book SynopsisOver the last two decades or so, a number of developing countries have become important suppliers of manufactured goods. A good deal of these goods are produced under extremely poor working conditions, incompatible with the fundamental rights and freedoms. However, WTO rules do not allow restrictions on imports of such goods, and the ILO hardly ever sanctions violations of international labor standards. On the one hand, this leaves exporting countries free to compromise on labor protection in order to enhance their competitiveness on foreign markets. On the other hand, importing countries are obliged to keep their markets open for goods produced under substandard labor conditions. This gives rise to the question of whether the rules of the multilateral trading system should be linked to international labor standards. This study argues that there are two trade-related reasons for establishing such a link.The first one is commonly referred to as social dumping. GATT rules enshrine the pr
Trade ReviewThis book shows what can be done against the deplorable working conditions in many developing countries that we encourage when buying vast quantities of imported goods produced in conditions that would not be unfamiliar to Dickens. It is, however, not yet another incendiary, bleeding heart pamphlet but the opposite of a dogmatic treatise, far away from the one-track-mind approach that has led so many worthy causes to defeat. It should be read by anyone concerned about the impact of our actions or inactions on the rest of the world, and especially by those who can influence public or private policy- and decision-making. -- Mogens Peter Carl
Mr. Plasa's book is, to my knowledge, the most comprehensive study of every aspect of the trade labor relationship. It shows the price that workers have paid for the sake of trade and corporate interests. I have the greatest respect for this extraordinary piece of work that should be brought to everybody's knowledge. -- Hervé Jouanjean, European Commission
Table of ContentsIntroduction: What This Book Is About Chapter 1. The Institutional Framework Chapter 2. The Framework of the Discussion Chapter 3. Linking Trade to Labor Standards for Non Trade-Related Reasons Chapter 4. Linking Trade to Labor Standards for Trade-Related Reasons Chapter 5. Alternative Approaches Chapter 6. Links in the Trade Regimes and Arrangements Chapter 7. The Shape of the Links Proposed in this Study Chapter 8. Objections to Linking Trade and Labor Standards Chapter 9. Additional Benefits of Linking Trade and Labor Standards Chapter 10. Getting Agreement on Linking Trade and Labor Standards Chapter 11. My Own Proposals Final Remarks Summing Up
