Novitz, Tonia --- "Core Labour Standards Conditionalities: A Means by Which to Achieve Sustainable Development?" [2010] ELECD 635; in Faundez, Julio; Tan, Celine (eds), "International Economic Law, Globalization and Developing Countries" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2010)

Book Title: International Economic Law, Globalization and Developing Countries

Editor(s): Faundez, Julio; Tan, Celine

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781848441132

Section: Chapter 11

Section Title: Core Labour Standards Conditionalities: A Means by Which to Achieve Sustainable Development?

Author(s): Novitz, Tonia

Number of pages: 18

Extract:

11. Core labour standards
conditionalities: a means by
which to achieve sustainable
development?
Tonia Novitz*

1. INTRODUCTION

In the twenty-first century, `core' labour standards have emerged as an
apparently legitimate subject for trade and aid conditionality in the pursuit
of sustainable development. This chapter explains how this situation has
come about and challenges current complacency on this issue.
The second section of the chapter contrasts results-led and participatory
views of sustainable development and identifies how, despite the tendency
of policy-makers to focus on a results-based approach, the protection of
labour standards could be associated with a participatory orientation. The
third section considers how a very limited number of `fundamental princi-
ples and rights at work' came to be identified as `core' by the International
Labour Organization (ILO) and considers critically the pros and cons of
this selective approach. The fourth section of the chapter discusses the
use of core labour standards in conditionality, including an overview of
this practice in lending institutions and under the Generalised System of
Preferences (GSP).
It is suggested that promotion of labour standards could prove a useful
means by which to achieve sustainable development, but that this requires
opportunities for inclusive dialogue and participatory strategies. Such pro-
cedural mechanisms are now receiving greater attention, but have yet to
fully permeate current modes of conditionality. Indeed, the forms of con-
ditionality that have emerged have done so despite vocal resistance from
governments and civil society (including some trade unions) in developing
states. ...