global labour standards Flashcards
what does the interdependency of countries mean for global labour standards
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
labour is not a _____
commodity
what does ILO stand for
international labour organisation
what does csr stand for
corporate social responsiblity
what percentage of all trade is trade within companies
80%
what does the credibility of corporate codes of conduct depend on
transparency (sub sub contractors),
monitoring,
enforcement (can workers complain),
redress (how do we fix it)
what are some things included in corporate codes of conduct and what are some things that are omitted
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
what is the corporation tax in ireland
12.5%
why would a shipping company register their ship in ireland or similar country
where corporation tax more favourable (12.5% in Ireland)
what has happened to the size of container ships over time and why
increased over time to exploit economies of scale
what does teu stand for
twenty-foot equivalent unit (shipping container thing)
what does foc stand for
flags of convenience
flag of convenience d
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
what does itf stand for
international transport worker’s federation
what sort of things are on an itf (international transport worker’s federation) contract
wages, hours (overtime), holiday, rest periods, leave, sick pay
what are the conditions for effective international trade unionism
organisational comprehensiveness, inclusiveness (represent everyone), internal authority, external recognition (recognised by other organisations), sufficient resources
what are some features of the ilo
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
how many core conventions do the ilo have
8,
might need to learn them but do not know at this stage
what are some features of achieving decent work
securing fundamental workplace rights,
better employment opportunities for all workers,
providing for social protection,
promoting social dialogue
what are the six dimensions of the ilo
opportunities for work, freedom of choice of employment, productive work, equity in work, security at work, dignity at work
what is the economic case for labour standards
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
what is the social case for labour standards
absolute versus relative labour standards,
universal labour rights versus culture specific standards
what are the benefits of international labour standards
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
what do the ilo not have
an enforcement mechanism
how much of global trade by volume is carried by sea
80%
what is the maritime labour convention
international standards for working and living conditions of seafarers adopted by the ILO in 2006
what does the maritime labour convention include
contracts of employment, wages, hours of work, hours of rest, annual paid leave, repatriation
when was the maritime labour convention
2006
what is the key enforcement tool for the maritime labour convention
maritime labour certificate
tell me about the maritime labour certificate
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
what does the maritime labour convention lay down standards for
decent accommodation spaces,
quality catering,
appropriate on board recreational facilities
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
any commercial vessel can be boarded and inspected regardless of flag state, if not in compliance can be detained in port
what clause does the maritime labour convention introduce
no more favourable treatment clause
what does the no more favourable treatment clause mean
creates level playing field which means ship owners cannot escape MLC 2006 global standards by registering their ships in a non-ratifying flag state
when was the ilo created
1919
what has the ilo established and developed
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
what did the ilo’s founders recognise
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
what does the decent work agenda aim to achieve
aims to achieve decent work for all by promoting social dialogue, social protection and employment creation, as well as respect for international labour standards
what did the international community recognise in 1944
labour is not a commodity
what is the ilo’s unique tripartite structure
standards are backed by governments, employers and workers alike
expand on the level playing field idea in the ilo document thing
helps governments and employers avoid the temptation of lowering labour standards in belief that it could give them a comparative advantage in international trade
what are some negative effects of lowering labour standards
encourage spread of low wage, low skill, high turnover industries and prevent a country from developing more stable high skilled employment
what does a growing body of research indicate about compliance with international labour standards
that compliance often accompanies improvements in productivity and economic performance
what can higher wage and working time standards and respect for equality translate into
better and more satisfied workers and lower turnover of staff
what made the 1997 asian financial crisis, the 2000 dot com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis worse
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
what are international labour standards
legal instruments drawn up by the ILO’a constituents (governments, employers and workers) setting out basic principles and rights at work
what are international labour standards (one or the other)
conventions (which are legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by member states) or recommendations (which serve as non-binding guidelines
what is a convention
legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by member states
what is a recommendation
non-binding guidelines
how are conventions and recommendations linked
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)
are conventions and recommendations always linked
recommendations can also be autonomous, not linked to any convention
who are conventions and recommendations drawn up by
representatives of governments, employers and workers and are adopted at the ilo’s annual international labour conference
what happens once a standard is adopted
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
ratification d
the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract or agreement, making it officially valid
what is ratification in terms of the ilo
formal procedure whereby a state accepts the convention as a legally binding instrument
what other areas of influence does the ilo have
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)
