Trade
Trade and human rights in working life
Traditionally, human rights have been outside the framework of trade policy, but globalisation has lead to a greater awareness of labour conditions in other countries. Increasingly, there is demand that trade policy take into consideration values such as human rights.
The International Labour Organization, ILO
It the ILO that has the task of ensuring that the terms of conventions in the field of labour legislation are observed.
The Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
The 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is of central importance. The declaration is a binding objective for all the member states of the ILO, even for those that have not ratified subsidiary conventions. The declaration establishes four principals:
1. Freedom of association, the right to organise and recognition of the right to collective negotiation
2. Abolition of all forms of forced labour
3. Abolition of child labour, giving first priority to dangerous child labour
4. Abolition of discrimination at work
A dialogue on trade and social issues
Sweden and the EU want to improve the exchange of information between the fields of trade policy and labour legislation. This is necessary in order to ensure that trade policy works hand in hand with the promotion of human rights at work. For this reason, an institutional framework is needed where this type of discussion can be held and where joint studies and analyses of the subject can be undertaken. Thus, for some time, the EU has been advocating the establishment of a permanent forum for dialogue on trade and social issues. The ILO and WTO should be included as members, as should other international organisations.
The World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation
The World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation may represent an important step on the way to this EU objective Together with other international organisations, the World Commission should support the ILO in adopting a holistic approach to these issues. It will meet four times in 2002 and submit a report to the director-general of the ILO. The ILO will then come to a possible decision in 2003.
Lower customs tariffs conditional on the protection of human rights
The relation between trade and human rights at work is a controversial issue. Many developing countries regard the Western world's demand for respect for human rights as a way of protecting their own domestic industries. In this context, however, it is important to point out that neither Sweden nor the EU wish to introduce economic sanctions against countries which do not succeed in living up to ILO conventions that they have themselves signed. What is at issue is not taking countries to court. However Sweden and the EU wish to give preference to those countries that respect existing ILO conventions in this field. At present, this is done, inter alia, through the EU Generalised System of Preferences, which is able to provide for lower customs tariffs if employee rights are protected. In the autumn of 2001 this system was strengthened, providing for greater reductions in customs tariffs and covering all four fundamental human rights in working life. However, few countries have hitherto applied for preferential treatment on the grounds of protection of the rights of employees.
The importance of bilateral contacts
While trade policy may be able to play a role in promoting respect for human rights at work, we must remember that many infringements occur in domestic non-exporting industry. Thus, for example, only five per cent of the world's child labourers work in export industries. The remaining 95 per cent work to support themselves or their parents in domestic markets. Thus to combat crimes against human rights, it is of central importance that Sweden continues to point to crimes against human rights in its bilateral contacts and that traditional work to promote human rights goes on. In addition, companies should shoulder their responsibilities for human rights in the countries in which they operate.
Last edited 2008-01-18
