Resource Guide on Export Processing Zones (EPZs)

As an important feature of globalization, EPZs have been monitored by the ILO for over 20 years. Zones take many forms, including free trade zones, special economic zones, bonded warehouses, free ports and maquiladoras. The ILO has defined EPZs as “industrial zones with special incentives set up to attract foreign investors, in which imported materials undergo some degree of processing before being (re)exported again...

Zones have evolved from initial assembly and simple processing activities to include high tech and science zones, finance zones, logistics centres and even tourist resorts. Their physical form now includes not only enclave-type zones but also single-industry zones...

While many public agencies are still establishing zones, there is a distinct trend towards the private development of zones, often by foreign developers. Public zones usually offer better infrastructure than that available in the domestic economy, and private zones generally surpass that in an attempt to attract higher quality investment...

• Employment and social policy in respect of EPZs, Governing Body, 286th session, 2003

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• Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning multinational enterprises and social policy pdf 117 KB

Conventions

• C87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948
• C98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949
• C100 Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951
• C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958
• C122 Employment Policy Convention, 1964
• C135 Workers' Representatives Convention, 1971
• C156 Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981
• C158 Termination of Employment Convention, 1982
• C169 Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989

Recommendations

• R90 Equal Remuneration Recommendation, 1951
• R165 Workers with Family Responsibilities Recommendation, 1981
• R166 Termination of Employment Recommendation, 1982