How Are International Labor Standards Advanced?

Christopher Candland, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science Wellesley College

5/30/2008
(Original Publish Date: 6/9/2005)

The global trade regime is facing intense criticism for its association with sweatshop conditions of work and terms of employment. Groups that considered intolerable the absence of labor concerns in the World Trade Organization's decision-making paralyzed the Seattle meeting of the WTO and have slowed the meetings of other inter-governmental trade and financial organizations. Organized labor in the United States is increasingly assertive. First and third world governments disagree vehemently over whether labor conditions should be related to trade agreements. First and third world labor organizations are often even more divided. At issue is not only the future of trade relations. Also at stake is the future of economic development models that are based on growth through trade. How effective international labor standards become, or do not become, more broadly respected will provide clear indications of how, and how selectively, other rights will be respected in this era of rapidly increasing international economic interdependence.