The Experts below are selected from a list of 21777 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Juanita Elias - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Women workers and Labour Standards: the problem of ‘human rights’
Review of International Studies, 2007Co-Authors: Juanita EliasAbstract:The International Labour Organisation’s Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of 1998 formalised an approach to global Labour issues known as the Core Labour Standards (CLS). The CLS have privileged a specific set of Labour Standards as possessing the kinds of universalistic qualities associated with ideas of ‘human rights’; the abolition of forced and child Labour, equality of opportunity, and trade union rights. But what does this ‘human rights’ approach mean from the point of view of those women workers who dominate employment in some of the most globalised, and insecure, industries in the world? In this article, I make the case for critical feminist engagement with the gender-blind, and neoliberal-compatible, approach to economic rights as set out in the CLS. Not least, this article raises wider concerns about the insufficiency of approaches to economic rights that are designed to work within the (gendered) structures of a neoliberal economic development paradigm. It is suggested that the CLS have endorsed a voluntarist approach to Labour Standards that views the promotion and regulation of human rights by global corporations as unproblematic. The article challenges this perspective, drawing upon the work of number of feminist scholars working in the area of women’s employment and corporate codes of conduct. These feminist writings have specifically avoided the language of human rights; thus questions need to be asked concerning the possibilities and the limitations that the CLS opens up for women’s human rights activism.
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International Labour Standards, codes of conduct and gender issues: A review of recent debates and controversies
Non-State Actors and International Law, 2003Co-Authors: Juanita EliasAbstract:© 2003 Koninklijke BrillCalls for greater levels of protection for workers in the global economy have emerged as a repose to the growth of globally organised networks of production centred around the multinational corporation (MNC). The suggestion is made that, in this context, states, keen to attract foreign investment, are increasingly less able to enforce national Labour Standards. This paper considers the various debates and controversies that surround the issue of Labour Standards. I look at the way in which the debates have played out within the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and contrast this approach with the emergence of "self-regulatory" code of conduct based modes of MNC regulation. However, as a feminist researcher with interests in the subordination of female employment within the global economy, this paper also seeks to address the issue of how women's Labour rights are being protected. A gender perspective on this issue is essential because of the massively important role of female employment in many of the globalized industries that have been at the heart of Labour Standards debate (in particular in clothing). It is noted that the emergence of an approach to international Labour Standards that embraces a human rights approach has, in practice, led to the emergence of very minimalistic definitions of Labour Standards that act to marginalise women's concerns as workers in global supply chains. Despite the limitations of codes of conduct as a mode of regulating Labour Standards, it is suggested that these codes do provide a space for the bringing in of gender concerns into the Labour Standards debate.Juanita Elia
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International Labour Standards, codes of conduct and gender issues: A review of recent debates and controversies
Non-state Actors and International Law, 2003Co-Authors: Juanita EliasAbstract:Calls for greater levels of protection for workers in the global economy have emerged as a repose to the growth of globally organised networks of production centred around the multinational corporation (MNC). The suggestion is made that, in this context, states, keen to attract foreign investment, are increasingly less able to enforce national Labour Standards. This paper considers the various debates and controversies that surround the issue of Labour Standards. I look at the way in which the debates have played out within the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and contrast this approach with the emergence of "self-regulatory" code of conduct based modes of MNC regulation. However, as a feminist researcher with interests in the subordination of female employment within the global economy, this paper also seeks to address the issue of how women's Labour rights are being protected. A gender perspective on this issue is essential because of the massively important role of female employment in many of the globalized industries that have been at the heart of Labour Standards debate (in particular in clothing). It is noted that the emergence of an approach to international Labour Standards that embraces a human rights approach has, in practice, led to the emergence of very minimalistic definitions of Labour Standards that act to marginalise women's concerns as workers in global supply chains. Despite the limitations of codes of conduct as a mode of regulating Labour Standards, it is suggested that these codes do provide a space for the bringing in of gender concerns into the Labour Standards debate.
William A. Kerr - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Labour Standards as a Justification for Trade Barriers: Consumer Concerns, Protectionism and the Evidence: Technical Annex
The Estey Centre Journal of International Law and Trade Policy, 2010Co-Authors: Samira Bakhshi, William A. KerrAbstract:In this article, justifications by producers (economic protectionism), consumers and social advocates (humanitarian motives) for including Labour Standards in international trade agreements are discussed. To date, little work has been undertaken to determine empirically whether low Labour Standards lead to trade distortions. This article provides some empirical evidence pertaining to this question. Consumer groups, social advocates and traditional vested interests such as Labour unions have attempted to have Labour Standards included in WTO disciplines. In the absence of success at the WTO, the relationship between Labour Standards and international trade has, however, been evolving in the areas of private Standards and preferential trade agreements. Given the leading role that preferential trade agreements sometimes take in establishing future directions in multilateral trade agreements and the increasing dissatisfaction with the WTO’s treatment of consumer issues in general, in the future Labour Standards may well work their way into multilateral trade agreements. The empirical results show that low Labour Standards could potentially lead to trade distortions, but more empirical work is required before a legitimate case might be made to have Labour Standards considered in multilateral trade negotiations.
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Labour Standards as a Justification for Trade Barriers: Consumer Concerns, Protectionism and the Evidence
The Estey Centre Journal of International Law and Trade Policy, 2010Co-Authors: Samira Bakhshi, William A. KerrAbstract:In this article, justifications by producers (economic protectionism), consumers and social advocates (humanitarian motives) for including Labour Standards in international trade agreements are discussed. To date, little work has been undertaken to determine empirically whether low Labour Standards lead to trade distortions. This article provides some empirical evidence pertaining to this question. Consumer groups, social advocates and traditional vested interests such as Labour unions have attempted to have Labour Standards included in WTO disciplines. In the absence of success at the WTO, the relationship between Labour Standards and international trade has, however, been evolving in the areas of private Standards and preferential trade agreements. Given the leading role that preferential trade agreements sometimes take in establishing future directions in multilateral trade agreements and the increasing dissatisfaction with the WTO’s treatment of consumer issues in general, in the future Labour Standards may well work their way into multilateral trade agreements. The empirical results show that low Labour Standards could potentially lead to trade distortions, but more empirical work is required before a legitimate case might be made to have Labour Standards considered in multilateral trade negotiations.
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Incorporating Labour Standards in trade agreements: protectionist ploy or legitimate trade policy issue?
International Journal of Trade and Global Markets, 2008Co-Authors: Samira Bakhshi, William A. KerrAbstract:The relationship between Labour Standards in developing countries and trade flows has become a major trade policy issue with efforts in some developed countries to have Labour Standards provisions included in multilateral and regional trade agreements. This has been fiercely resisted by developing countries. Central to the argument is the degree to which low or poorly enforced Labour Standards affect comparative advantage. This paper finds limited evidence that only some Labour Standards – degree of unionisation and forced Labour – have a small impact on a country's international competitiveness. Given this result, the question of how to include Labour Standards in international agreements is discussed.
David Kucera - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Labour Standards and informal employment in latin america
World Development, 2004Co-Authors: Rossana Galli, David KuceraAbstract:In recent decades Latin America has experienced a steady and substantial increase in the share of workers characterized by informal employment status. From 1990 to 1997, for instance, the share of informal employment for a group of 14 Latin American countries increased from 51.8 to 57.7 per cent, based on a definition of informal employment used by the International Labour Organization which includes non-agricultural employment in small firms, self-employment and domestic service.2 One reason for concern regarding the growing share of informal employment in Latin America is that such employment is often characterized by poor work conditions, including low Labour Standards.
Rémi Bazillier - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Labour Standards and Migration : do Labour conditions matter ?
2009Co-Authors: Rémi Bazillier, Yasser MoullanAbstract:We study in this paper the interactions between migration rates and the level of Labour Standards. We use an augmented version of the Grogger and Hanson (2008) model, adding the level of working conditions into the specification. Our hypothesis is that the differential of working conditions may be a complementary determinant of migration. In a first time, we test the influence of Labour Standards in countries of origin using a database on emigration rates built by Defoort (2006) for the period 1975-1995. For Labour Standards, we built an original index with a temporal dimension. We find that Labour Standards in the source countries does not have a significant impact on the probability of moving abroad. In a second time, we use a bilateral migration database built by Marfouk and Docquier (2004) in order to test the influence of Labour Standards in destination countries. If Labour Standards in the source countries do not have a significant impact on migration flows, level of Labour conditions in destination countries have multiple effects on bilateral migration flows. Social protection or protection of collective relations have a positive impact on migration, while job and employment protection laws have the opposite effect. We also find that high-skilled workers are much more sensitive to social security benefits while low skilled workers are more attracted by a protective job and employment legislation.
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Labour Standards and Migration : do Labour conditions matter ?
2009Co-Authors: Rémi Bazillier, Yasser MoullanAbstract:We study in this paper the interactions between migration rates and the level of Labour Standards. We use an augmentee version of the Grogger and Hanson (2008) model, adding the level of working conditions into the specification. Our hypothesis is that the differential of working conditions may be a complementary determinant of migration. In a first time, we test the influence of Labour Standards in countries of origin using a database on emigration rates built by Defoort (2006) for the period 1975-1995. For Labour Standards, we built an original index with a temporal dimension. We find that Labour Standards in the source countries does not have a significant impact on the probability of moving abroad. In a second time, we use a bilateral migration database built by Marfouk and Docquier (2004) in order to test the influence of Labour Standards in destination countries. If Labour Standards in the source countries do not have a significant impact on migration flows, level of Labour conditions in destination countries have multiple effects on bilateral migration flows. Social protection or protection of collective relations have a positive impact on migration, while job and employment protection laws have the opposite effect. We also find that high-skilled workers are much more sensitive to social security benefits while low skilled workers are more attracted by a protective job and employment legislation.
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Is There a Social Kuznets Curve? The Influence of Labour Standards on Inequality
The Journal of Development Studies, 2008Co-Authors: Rémi Bazillier, Nicolas SirvenAbstract:International audienceThis study empirically investigates the impact of core Labour Standards on incomeinequality for a range of 90 countries from 1990–2000. A synthetic index of Labour Standards iscomputed by means of aMultiple Correspondence Analysis and no significant correlation is foundwith the Gini index. One of the reasons pointed out is that the effective implementation of coreLabour Standards depends on the quality of the country's political and legal systems. Usinginstrumental variables in a TSLS model, we found an inverse ‘U' shaped curve between the newendogenous index of core Labour Standards and income inequality
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Core Labour Standards and Inequalities: Is There a Social Kuznets Curve?
2008Co-Authors: Rémi Bazillier, Nicolas SirvenAbstract:This study empirically investigates the impact of core Labour Standards on income inequality for a range of 90 countries from 1990 to 2000. We focus on the four core Labour Standards (prohibition of child Labour, freedom of association and collective bargaining, prohibition of discrimination, and prohibition of forced Labour) defined by ILO and OECD. The number of ILO conventions ratified is added to the four previous variables with the aim to compute a synthetic index of Labour Standards by means of a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). This index is then inserted as an independent variable in an econometric model to test for its relationships with the Gini index. No significant correlation is found among the different econometric specifications. One of the reasons pointed out is that there is a difference between de jure and de facto norms. In other words, the exogeneity of the index does not distinguish countries that implement effective Labour Standards from those that just ratify the treaties. We actually assume that the effective implementation of core Labour Standards depends on the quality of the country’s political and legal systems. The endogeneity bias in the first step models is corrected using instrumental variables in a TSLS model. We found that the relationship between the new endogenous index of core Labour Standards and income inequality follows an inversed ‘U’ shaped curve.
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Is There a Social Kuznets Curve? The Influence of Labour Standards on Inequality
The Journal of Development Studies, 2008Co-Authors: Rémi Bazillier, Nicolas SirvenAbstract:This study empirically investigates the impact of core Labour Standards on income inequality for a range of 90 countries from 1990–2000. A synthetic index of Labour Standards is computed by means of aMultiple Correspondence Analysis and no significant correlation is found with the Gini index. One of the reasons pointed out is that the effective implementation of core Labour Standards depends on the quality of the country's political and legal systems. Using instrumental variables in a TSLS model, we found an inverse ‘U' shaped curve between the new endogenous index of core Labour Standards and income inequality.
Samira Bakhshi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Labour Standards as a Justification for Trade Barriers: Consumer Concerns, Protectionism and the Evidence: Technical Annex
The Estey Centre Journal of International Law and Trade Policy, 2010Co-Authors: Samira Bakhshi, William A. KerrAbstract:In this article, justifications by producers (economic protectionism), consumers and social advocates (humanitarian motives) for including Labour Standards in international trade agreements are discussed. To date, little work has been undertaken to determine empirically whether low Labour Standards lead to trade distortions. This article provides some empirical evidence pertaining to this question. Consumer groups, social advocates and traditional vested interests such as Labour unions have attempted to have Labour Standards included in WTO disciplines. In the absence of success at the WTO, the relationship between Labour Standards and international trade has, however, been evolving in the areas of private Standards and preferential trade agreements. Given the leading role that preferential trade agreements sometimes take in establishing future directions in multilateral trade agreements and the increasing dissatisfaction with the WTO’s treatment of consumer issues in general, in the future Labour Standards may well work their way into multilateral trade agreements. The empirical results show that low Labour Standards could potentially lead to trade distortions, but more empirical work is required before a legitimate case might be made to have Labour Standards considered in multilateral trade negotiations.
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Labour Standards as a Justification for Trade Barriers: Consumer Concerns, Protectionism and the Evidence
The Estey Centre Journal of International Law and Trade Policy, 2010Co-Authors: Samira Bakhshi, William A. KerrAbstract:In this article, justifications by producers (economic protectionism), consumers and social advocates (humanitarian motives) for including Labour Standards in international trade agreements are discussed. To date, little work has been undertaken to determine empirically whether low Labour Standards lead to trade distortions. This article provides some empirical evidence pertaining to this question. Consumer groups, social advocates and traditional vested interests such as Labour unions have attempted to have Labour Standards included in WTO disciplines. In the absence of success at the WTO, the relationship between Labour Standards and international trade has, however, been evolving in the areas of private Standards and preferential trade agreements. Given the leading role that preferential trade agreements sometimes take in establishing future directions in multilateral trade agreements and the increasing dissatisfaction with the WTO’s treatment of consumer issues in general, in the future Labour Standards may well work their way into multilateral trade agreements. The empirical results show that low Labour Standards could potentially lead to trade distortions, but more empirical work is required before a legitimate case might be made to have Labour Standards considered in multilateral trade negotiations.
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Incorporating Labour Standards in trade agreements: protectionist ploy or legitimate trade policy issue?
International Journal of Trade and Global Markets, 2008Co-Authors: Samira Bakhshi, William A. KerrAbstract:The relationship between Labour Standards in developing countries and trade flows has become a major trade policy issue with efforts in some developed countries to have Labour Standards provisions included in multilateral and regional trade agreements. This has been fiercely resisted by developing countries. Central to the argument is the degree to which low or poorly enforced Labour Standards affect comparative advantage. This paper finds limited evidence that only some Labour Standards – degree of unionisation and forced Labour – have a small impact on a country's international competitiveness. Given this result, the question of how to include Labour Standards in international agreements is discussed.
