The book offers a comprehensive perspective on the highly topical issue of protecting and promoting labour standards in international economic law and the globalized economy. For the purpose of an in-depth analysis of both the specific and the fundamental aspects in this regard, it combines views from specialized academics of the legal and political sciences as well as experienced practitioners. The contributions to this book do not only reveal recurring obstacles but also point at best practices and potential for synergies, providing important guidance for future research and practice in international economic and labour law and policy.

Master's Thesis from the year 2011 in the subject Law - Civil / Private / Trade / Anti Trust Law / Business Law, King s College London (School of Law), course: International Labour Law, language: English, abstract: The phenomenon of globalisation has triggered various trends and changes world-wide, affecting almost every part of life. One of the most heavily influenced realms has been labour and its legal framework. Globalisation has transformed the nature of work as well as the organisation and way in which work is performed nowadays. Due to the technical progress, Multinational Corporations have been equipped with an immense ability to relocate their business wherever and whenever they want to any part of the world, powerful enough to dictate their demands to national governments. National governments have, simultaneously, been weakened and especially developing countries are competing with each other in order to attract MNCs, often by adopting and maintaining low labour standards with the result of a feared "race to the bottom". Additionally, the International Labour Organisation, historically the main standard-setting institution, has experienced enormous problems in the implementation process and has therefore undergone a paradigm shift. Moreover, other actors have entered the arena of "standard-setting" such as NGOs etc. This essay tries to analyse the challenges of globalisation posed to international labour standards, especially experienced by the ILO. It then continues by examining the various private measures, which have been used so far, covering both public and private measures, and reaching from e.g. codes of conducts to international framework agreements. It is argued that public and private implementation have become increasingly interdependent, and that developing and fostering this interdependency will be crucial for the prospective success and effectiveness of international labour standards in an ongoing globalising world.

This book provides a set of proposals for how best to guarantee effective enforcement of labour rights worldwide. The linkage between labour standards and global trade has been recurrent for some 200 years. At a time when the world is struggling to find a way out of crisis and is striving for economic growth, more than ever there is a need for up-to-date research on how to protect and promote labour rights in the global economy. This book explores the history of the field and also provides an overview of emerging trends and opportunities. It discusses the most recent problems including: the effectiveness and the role of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in the second century of its existence, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its potential relevance in the protection of labour rights, the effectiveness of the US and the EU Generalised System of Preferences, the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) instruments on labour rights, and labour provisions in the international trade agreements concluded by the US and the EU. The book argues, inter alia, that trade agreements seem to be a useful tool to help pave the way out of the crisis and that the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) can be perceived as a model agreement and a symbol of a shift in perspective from long global supply chains to a focus on regional ones, local production, jobs and a rise in wages. The book will be essential reading for academics and students in the fields of human rights law, international labour law, industrial relations law, international sustainable development law, international economic law and international trade law. It will also be of interest to practitioners, non-government organisations (NGOs) and policy makers.

This comprehensive Handbook explores the complex and volatile debate over globalisation and labour standards. It offers key insights into the impact of globalisation on workers, the obligations of corporations and international legal bodies in protecting workers’ rights and maximising the opportunities offered by international trade and investment.

Volume 10 of the EYIEL focusses on the relationship between transnational labour law and international economic law on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). As one of the oldest UN Agencies, the ILO has achieved considerable progress with respect to labour rights and conditions. The contributions to EYIEL Volume 10 assess these achievements in light of current and future challenges. The ILO’s core instruments and legal documents are analysed and similarly the impact labour standards have on trade and investment agreements. In its regional section, EYIEL 10 addresses recent developments in the US and the EU, including the US’ trade policy strategy towards China as well as the reform of the NAFTA. In its part on institutions, EYIEL 10 focusses inter alia on the role of the rule of law in relation to current practices of the International Monetary Fund and of the WTO’s Appellate Body as an international court. Furthermore, it provides an overview of current cases before the WTO. Finally, the volume entails a section with review essays on recently published books in the field of international economic law and international investment law.

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the new methods of transnational labour regulation that are emerging in response to globalisation.

"Do core labour standards exist in today's global economy? If so, what are they? And most important how effective are they?" "In this book two labour law scholars answer these questions in a definitive manner. In detail they demonstrate that, although insufficiently legally binding instruments governing employment and labour exist beyond the national level, a significant body of international soft law has developed that does in fact carry great weight. Blanpain and Colucci identity four major sources of this soft law - the UN Global Compact of 1999, the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles, the North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises - and show how the principles these instruments enunciate act as a countervailing power to the international economic decision-making of multinational corporations." "The authors cite relevant cases and highlight emerging trends in this important area of labour law. Annexes reprint all four of the instruments. The Globalization of Labour Standards will be welcomed by all sectors of the labour and employment law community as a fully realized analysis of what is currently available to those who would like to ensure economic and social progress in a world dominated by multinational corporations."--BOOK JACKET.