Bringing Workers’ Rights Back In? Propositions towards a Labour–Trade Linkage for the Global South

Abstract

The idea of forging a linkage between global trade and labour standards has a long history and has been the subject of fierce debate. In a global political economy that incites 'competition for jobs', the idea cannot escape controversy. Crucially, it has failed to win significant support from trade unionists in the global South. Drawing on viewpoints voiced by workers' rights activists in South Africa and Brazil, this article presents four propositions on the features and functions that a labour-trade linkage would have to possess if it is to serve workers' interests, and explores whether and how these may be accommodated by the ILO and WTO regimes. It is argued that a linkage requiring a new single WTO undertaking is out of the question; a linkage would only make sense if it superimposes ILO rule onto the WTO, not the opposite; a linkage should be premised on positive trade measures; and, finally, it should serve the interests of presently unprotected and unorganized workers. Overall, the main challenge of such a linkage would be to achieve the necessary reform within the ILO. I am grateful for the thorough reading and comments of two anonymous Development and Change reviewers (the usual caveats apply), and I would like to express my gratitude towards all the interviewees cited. Development and Change 46(1): 121-147.

Forcing change from the outside? The role of trade-labour linkages in transforming Vietnam's labour regime

“…Perhaps not surprisingly, existing research suggests that ratification of such an agreement does not necessarily lead to improved labour standards. Rather, effectiveness requires some combination of ‘carrots’ (positive incentives) and ‘sticks’ (trade-related sanctions) to achieve compliance (Salem and Rozental, 2012; Pahle, 2015). Several scholars distinguish between pre-ratification or pre-ante effects, on the one hand, and post-ratification or ex-post effects on the other.…”