Lecture 3: WTO and Human Labor Rights

Question 1

What are Core Labour Standards?

Answer 1

-freedom of association and the right to engage in collective bargaining
-elimination of forced labour
elimination of child labour
elimination of discrimination in employment

Question 2

What are rationals for a trade policy-labour standards-human rights linkage?

Answer 2

• it is unfair for firms and workers in developed countries to compete with firms and workers of developing countries where labour standards and labour costs are lower
• race to the bottom
• CLS should be based off UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

Question 3

What is the difference between soft law and hard law?

Answer 3

soft law denotes agreements, principles, and declarations that are not legally binding. Hard law refers generally to legal obligations that are binding on the parties involved and which can be legally enforced before a court