Labour issues in international business

Question 1

Areas causing concern in terms of labour issues?

Answer 1

• Minimum age for labour
• Forced labour
• Working hours and holidays
• Health and safety - general working conditions
• Freedom of association/ right to organise and join unions
• Non-discrimination in employment

Question 2

What is the labour standard debate?

Answer 2

A debate that has been ongoing debating the conditions and resulting acts of improving standards of labour.

• Through the abolition of child labour and number of working hours in the UK in the 19th Century the country lost competitiveness because it significantly increased costs
• There is no international governance system in place to monitor labour standards
• Likely to feature more and more on WTO and ILO discussions

Question 3

What is the ILO (International Labour Organisation)?

Answer 3

Formed in 1919

Oldest umbrella organisation of the UN

182 members, 180 conventions, 190 recommendations on about rights

Has no legislative power but has a code of conduct

Question 4

What are the four fundamental principles of the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles to Uphold Rights at Work by the ILO?

Answer 4

1) Freedom of association and the effective recognition of collective bargaining
2) Elimination of all forms of forced labour
3) Effective abolition of child labour
4) Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation