Standards & rights at work:
Freedom of association and collective bargaining - globalization, social dialogue and EPZs

Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right of collective bargaining are crucial to the observance of other fundamental rights at work. In developed countries, appropriate frameworks guarantee the implementation of these fundamental human rights at work. However, in TCF industries social dialogue exists, but the partners of that dialogue have been weakened by the economic crisis and are mindful of the potential effects of social action in the light of international competition. In the Central and Eastern European countries, recently implemented restructuring policies have helped these economies integrate the process of globalization but have also negatively affected trade union structures and collective bargaining practices. Moreover, in many countries the absence of representative employers' associations in the TCF industries makes the establishment of a real social dialogue difficult. In the developing countries, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are generally guaranteed in theory under the Constitution and national laws. In practice, trade union rights cannot always be exercised fully in TCF industries, especially in export processing zones where legal or practical obstacles remain. More generally, international competition exercises a constant pressure on the social partners which limits the potential for significant progress in social dialogue.