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Rayp, Glenn; Marx, Axel; Wouters, Jan --- "Conclusion: which way to enforcement?" [2015] ELECD 1498; in Marx, Axel; Wouters, Jan; Rayp, Glenn; Beke, Laura (eds), "Global Governance of Labour Rights" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2015) 306

Book Title: Global Governance of Labour Rights

Editor(s): Marx, Axel; Wouters, Jan; Rayp, Glenn; Beke, Laura

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781784711450

Section: Chapter 14

Section Title: Conclusion: which way to enforcement?

Author(s): Rayp, Glenn; Marx, Axel; Wouters, Jan

Number of pages: 9

Abstract/Description:

The protection of labour rights is becoming increasingly complex in a world characterised by transnational supply chains, mobile capital and mobile people. In recent decades we have witnessed the development of an intricate web of political and legal initiatives on the issue of the global protection of labour rights, independent from established multilateral initiatives such as the International Labour Organization (ILO). These initiatives include trade-related initiatives, supply-chain oriented private initiatives by NGOs or firms, and unilateral actions by civil society actors. The contributions in this book provide an analysis of the present state of the most significant initiatives and how they impact global labour governance. A central question throughout the contributions concerns the enforcement of these initiatives. In this conclusion we aim to summarise, from a comparative perspective, the findings and proposals of the individual chapters around the issue of enforcement. In doing this we will make a distinction between state-driven public initiatives, mainly through trade-related measures, and private-driven initiatives. Before we proceed we would like to note, however, that the contributions are as relevant about the subjects they explicitly discuss as they are regarding at least one on which they remain silent. This we want to clarify first. No chapter indeed mentions, in whatever context, the possibility of automatic improvement of labour protection and the respect of core labour standards as a consequence of economic growth and development, an argument proposed by several free trade advocates.