global labour standards

Question 1

what does the interdependency of countries mean for global labour standards

Answer 1

failure of any nations to adopt humane conditions is an obstacle in the way of other nations that desire to improve conditions in their own countries

Question 2

labour is not a _____

Answer 2

commodity

Question 3

what does ILO stand for

Answer 3

international labour organisation

Question 4

what does csr stand for

Answer 4

corporate social responsiblity

Question 5

what percentage of all trade is trade within companies

Answer 5

80%

Question 6

what does the credibility of corporate codes of conduct depend on

Answer 6

transparency (sub sub contractors),
monitoring,
enforcement (can workers complain),
redress (how do we fix it)

Question 7

what are some things included in corporate codes of conduct and what are some things that are omitted

Answer 7

zero tolerance of child labour,
no forced labour,
equal treatment,
omissions,
freedom of association and right to collective bargaining,
explicit reference to international labour standards

Question 8

what is the corporation tax in ireland

Answer 8

12.5%

Question 9

why would a shipping company register their ship in ireland or similar country

Answer 9

where corporation tax more favourable (12.5% in Ireland)

Question 10

what has happened to the size of container ships over time and why

Answer 10

increased over time to exploit economies of scale

Question 11

what does teu stand for

Answer 11

twenty-foot equivalent unit (shipping container thing)

Question 12

what does foc stand for

Answer 12

flags of convenience

Question 13

flag of convenience d

Answer 13

a flag of a country under which a ship is registered in order to avoid financial charges or restrictive regulations in the owner’s country

Question 14

what does itf stand for

Answer 14

international transport worker’s federation

Question 15

what sort of things are on an itf (international transport worker’s federation) contract

Answer 15

wages, 
hours (overtime),
holiday,
rest periods,
leave,
sick pay

Question 16

what are the conditions for effective international trade unionism

Answer 16

organisational comprehensiveness,
inclusiveness (represent everyone),
internal authority,
external recognition (recognised by other organisations),
sufficient resources

Question 17

what are some features of the ilo

Answer 17

autonomous body of league of nations,
first specialist agency of the united nations,
only un agency with a tripartite structure (i do not know what this means),
2 government people 1 person who represents employers and 1 who represents workers

Question 18

how many core conventions do the ilo have

Answer 18

8,

might need to learn them but do not know at this stage

Question 19

what are some features of achieving decent work

Answer 19

securing fundamental workplace rights,
better employment opportunities for all workers,
providing for social protection,
promoting social dialogue

Question 20

what are the six dimensions of the ilo

Answer 20

opportunities for work,
freedom of choice of employment,
productive work,
equity in work,
security at work,
dignity at work

Question 21

what is the economic case for labour standards

Answer 21

raise standards raise productivity,
poor labour standards not necessarily low labour costs,
greatest inequality in wealth have lowest growth,
countries with freedom of association rights display growth advantages over dictatorship,
suppression of labour standards does not improve trade performance while the converse facilitates trade liberalisation

Question 22

what is the social case for labour standards

Answer 22

absolute versus relative labour standards,

universal labour rights versus culture specific standards

Question 23

what are the benefits of international labour standards

Answer 23

improves efficiency in world economy (encourages firms to improve efficiency instead of just exploiting workers),
draws attention to social and environmental concerns that are otherwise hidden,
competitive advantage for firms, providing innovative routes to differentiation,
strengthens and challenges national forms of governance

Question 24

what do the ilo not have

Answer 24

an enforcement mechanism

Question 25

how much of global trade by volume is carried by sea

Answer 25

80%

Question 26

what is the maritime labour convention

Answer 26

international standards for working and living conditions of seafarers adopted by the ILO in 2006

Question 27

what does the maritime labour convention include

Answer 27

``` contracts of employment, wages, hours of work, hours of rest, annual paid leave, repatriation ```

Question 28

when was the maritime labour convention

Answer 28

2006

Question 29

what is the key enforcement tool for the maritime labour convention

Answer 29

maritime labour certificate

Question 30

tell me about the maritime labour certificate

Answer 30

as of august 2013 it is required on all commercially registered vessels of 500GT or more on international voyages, it is the key enforcement tool for the maritime labour convention

Question 31

what does the maritime labour convention lay down standards for

Answer 31

decent accommodation spaces, quality catering, appropriate on board recreational facilities

Question 32

if a vessel is being inspected for the maritime labour convention, which vessels can be boarded and what happens if the vessel is not in compliance

Answer 32

any commercial vessel can be boarded and inspected regardless of flag state, if not in compliance can be detained in port

Question 33

what clause does the maritime labour convention introduce

Answer 33

no more favourable treatment clause

Question 34

what does the no more favourable treatment clause mean

Answer 34

creates level playing field which means ship owners cannot escape MLC 2006 global standards by registering their ships in a non-ratifying flag state

Question 35

when was the ilo created

Answer 35

1919

Question 36

what has the ilo established and developed

Answer 36

a system of international labour standards aimed at promoting opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity

Question 37

what did the ilo's founders recognise

Answer 37

that the global economy needed clear rules in order to ensure that economic progress would go hand in hand with social justice, prosperity and peace for all

Question 38

what does the decent work agenda aim to achieve

Answer 38

aims to achieve decent work for all by promoting social dialogue, social protection and employment creation, as well as respect for international labour standards

Question 39

what did the international community recognise in 1944

Answer 39

labour is not a commodity

Question 40

what is the ilo's unique tripartite structure

Answer 40

standards are backed by governments, employers and workers alike

Question 41

expand on the level playing field idea in the ilo document thing

Answer 41

helps governments and employers avoid the temptation of lowering labour standards in belief that it could give them a comparative advantage in international trade

Question 42

what are some negative effects of lowering labour standards

Answer 42

encourage spread of low wage, low skill, high turnover industries and prevent a country from developing more stable high skilled employment

Question 43

what does a growing body of research indicate about compliance with international labour standards

Answer 43

that compliance often accompanies improvements in productivity and economic performance

Question 44

what can higher wage and working time standards and respect for equality translate into

Answer 44

better and more satisfied workers and lower turnover of staff

Question 45

what made the 1997 asian financial crisis, the 2000 dot com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis worse

Answer 45

in many of the affected countries the social protection systems (unemployment and health insurance), active labour market policies and social dialogue were non-existent or under tremendous pressure

Question 46

what are international labour standards

Answer 46

legal instruments drawn up by the ILO'a constituents (governments, employers and workers) setting out basic principles and rights at work

Question 47

what are international labour standards (one or the other)

Answer 47

conventions (which are legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by member states) or recommendations (which serve as non-binding guidelines

Question 48

what is a convention

Answer 48

legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by member states

Question 49

what is a recommendation

Answer 49

non-binding guidelines

Question 50

how are conventions and recommendations linked

Answer 50

convention lays down the basic principles to be implemented by ratifying countries, while a recommendation supplements the convention by providing more detailed guidelines on how it could be applied (recommendations can also be autonomous, not linked to any convention)

Question 51

are conventions and recommendations always linked

Answer 51

recommendations can also be autonomous, not linked to any convention

Question 52

who are conventions and recommendations drawn up by

Answer 52

representatives of governments, employers and workers and are adopted at the ilo's annual international labour conference

Question 53

what happens once a standard is adopted

Answer 53

member states are required to submit them to relevant authority (parliament) for consideration, in case of conventions this means consideration for ratification, if it is ratified the convention comes into force one year after the date of ratification

Question 54

ratification d

Answer 54

the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract or agreement, making it officially valid

Question 55

what is ratification in terms of the ilo

Answer 55

formal procedure whereby a state accepts the convention as a legally binding instrument

Question 56

what other areas of influence does the ilo have

Answer 56

corporate social responsibility (lots of companies code of conduct refers to ilo standards), other international organisations, free trade agreements, civil society (if want to look at these in more depth it is on the ilo website link on the course outline)