Qué hay de nuevo
		Documento de trabajo Harnessing globalization for development: Opportunities and obstacles por Eddy Lee Nuevo libro Cross-border social dialogue and agreements, editado por Konstantinos Papadakis Nuevo libro Governance, International Law & Corporate Social Responsibility Nuevo libro Pursuing decent work goals: Priorities for research, por Gerry Rodgers y Christiane Kuptsch (en inglés) Inscríbase en nuestra lista de direcciones si desea recibir informaciones sobre las nuevas publicaciones (en inglés)

Publicaciones por internet

CROSS-BORDER SOCIAL DIALOGUE AND AGREEMENTS: An emerging global industrial relations framework? Editor: Konstantinos PAPADAKIS Globalization has generated a mismatch between the scope of the activities of global actors (such as multinational enterprises, or MNEs), which is increasingly transnational, and that of social actors (such as trade unions, social movements, nongovernmental organizations and consumers’ organizations), which remains largely embedded at national level.In response to this mismatch and in the absence of a state-driven multilateral framework, numerous private initiatives have appeared. International framework agreements (IFAs) have been one response. IFAs are the outcome of negotiations between individual MNEs and global union federations. IFAs aim to establish ongoing relationships between MNEs and Duch federations, for the benefit of both parties. They are intended to promote principles of labour relations and conditions of work – notably in the area of freedom of association and collective bargaining – and to organize a commonlabour relations framework at cross-border level. The present volume brings together the contributions of 13 specialists in the field of cross-border social dialogue and agreements. They come from both academic and policy-making backgrounds, such that this volume combines scholarly research with lessons learnt through experience. (Published in 2008). (Download full text in PDF 994 KB).

Governance, International Law & Corporate Social Responsibility Governance, International Law, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)”. Such was the theme of a seminar organised on 3-4 July 2006 by the International Institute of Social Studies of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), together with the participation of universities and legal experts. From presentations given and the exchanges which followed, it was apparent that between CSR and the law relations are of both a multiple and complex nature and ought to be analysed with care. Among the questions that were addressed, of particular note were those relating to the definition of CSR from a judicial perspective; the relationship between “hard” and “soft” laws; and actors’ appropriation of international norms, including the link between ethics and sustainable development in the social domain. Potentially important issues for the future were also explored, such as what role could and should international organisations, such as the ILO and its secretariat, play, and whether it is necessary to formulate and adopt new international judicial norms with regard to CSR. (Published in 2008). (Download full text in PDF 694 KB).

Pursuing decent work goals: Priorities for research por Gerry Rodgers and Christiane Kuptsch The present volume has its origins in a research conference on “Decent Work, Social Policy and Development” held from 29 November to 1 December 2006 and organized by the ILO’s International Institute for Labour Studies (IILS). The conference brought together over 150 scholars from different disciplines, ILO staff and participants from government, business and labour. It aimed at strengthening the ties between the ILO and the academic community and gaining new perspectives on the research needs of the Decent Work Agenda. The purpose of this volume is to present the broad research topics arising from these discussions. What comes out is a rich menu of themes that require new analysis. In particular, the growth in underground economy and informal employment is rightly regarded as a key issue which is not properly understood. This is only partly due to difficulties in grasping the phenomenon statistically. Indeed, a more general problem lies with the fact that the conceptual framework for labour market analysis tends to rest on the assumption of regular, stable employment arrangements. (Published in 2008). (Download full text in PDF 234 KB).

Effectivité et efficacité des normes fondamentales et prioritaires de l’OIT: Cas du Bénin et du Togo por Chrysal Aguidioli Kenoukon La Déclaration de l'OIT relative aux principes et droits fondamentaux au travail fait obligation aux États Membres de promouvoir et réaliser lesdits principes et droits fondamentaux, même en l'absence de ratification des conventions internationales du travail correspondantes. Ces conventions, dites fondamentales, concernent la liberté d'association et la négociation collective, l'élimination du travail forcé, l'abolition du travail des enfants et l'élimination de la discrimination en matière d'emploi et de profession. (Publicado en 2007). (Download full text in PDF 731 KB)

Comercio y Empleo - Los retos de la investigación sobre las políticas por Marion Jansen y Eddy Lee El presente estudio es fruto de la labor conjunta de investigación de la Secretaría de la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC) y la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT). En él se aborda una cuestión de importancia para ambas organizaciones: la relación entre comercio y empleo. Sobre la base de una revista general de la bibliografía económica existente, el estudio ofrece una visión imparcial de lo que puede afirmarse, y con qué grado de confianza, sobre la relación entre comercio y empleo, un tema de debate público frecuentemente controvertido. Se centra en la relación entre las políticas comerciales, por un lado, y las políticas laborales y sociales, por otro y será útil para quienes estén interesados en este debate: académicos, encargados de la formulación de políticas, economistas, trabajadores y empleadores y especialistas en materia de comercio y empleo. (Publicado en 2007). (PDF 751 KB)

The new offshoring of jobs and global development by Gary Gereffi The volume contains the full text of the 7th ILO Nobel Peace Prize Social Policy Lectures organized by the International Institute for Labour Studies. The lectures given by Professor Gary Gereffi of the Duke University, USA were hosted by the University of West Indies and held at the Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica in December 2005. In all there were three lectures, dealing with the following topics: (i) An overview of the contemporary global labour market; (ii) Global consolidation and industrial upgrading: The promise and perils of development; and (iii) Globalization and the demand for governance. (Published in 2006). (Download full text in PDF 702 KB)

Civil Society, Participatory Governance and Decent Work Objectives: The case of South Africa by Konstantinos Papadakis The present study presents the findings of an in-depth research project carried out at the International Institute for Labour Studies from 2003 to 2005, designed to better understand how civil society organizations, working within participatory governance structures, may contribute to the goals of the ILO decent work agenda. The author examines the South African experience which, since the mid-1990s, has become a centre of innovation in public policy making. This study focuses on three areas, all relevant to the decent work agenda: employment and poverty alleviation, health care and HIV-AIDS, and the fight against child labour, and examines the participatory processes set up at the national level in order to formulate and implement policies in these areas. It draws on both a literature review and the perceptions of key policy actors active in these three areas. (Published in 2006). (Download full text in PDF 535 KB)

Decent Work: objectives and strategies edited by Dharam Ghai The volume is the output of an Institute Project for the Preparation of Pedagogical Materials on Decent Work. The chapters included are based on studies prepared by eminent academics: Dharam Ghai, Bob Hepple, Martin Godfrey, Ashwani Saith and Sarosh Kuruvilla. They explain the dimensions of decent work with special reference to the four strategic objectives of the ILO, namely: Rights at Work, Employment, Social Protection and Social Dialogue. The volume provides an introductory text to the concept, strategies and policies pertaining to decent work. They bring out the evolution and content of the concept and policies relating to key components of Decent Work and show their relevance and applicability to diverse institutional contexts and stages of development. (Published in 2006). (Download full text in PDF 1.64 MB)

Offshoring and the Internationalization of Employment: A challenge for a fair globalization? edited by Peter Auer, Geneviève Besse and Dominique Méda Are job losses and the degradation of working conditions in the developed world due to globalization and the offshoring of jobs? Contrary to popular beliefs and fears, most economic analysis evaluating the long-term and global implications of the internationalization of employment does not support this view. Yet for workers who have been displaced, a positive global and long-term impact does not remove their immediate loss. The Proceedings of the Third Annecy Symposium, which took place in April 2005, discuss this paradox: globalization may have enhanced the overall well-being of those countries that have participated, and globally reduced poverty, but it looks more and more like a monster that devours jobs as there are few mechanisms to compensate those that have suffered. The book analyses trends and patterns in the internationalization of employment, looks at losers and winners, and proposes new policies of compensation. The latter are based on rights and international labour standards, and on a new effort to build an effective employment adjustment system that accompanies a fair globalization. (Published in 2006). (Download full text in PDF 1.34 MB)

Merchants of labour Edited by Christiane KUPTSCH More workers are crossing national borders to look for jobs than ever before. Many migrants seek overseas employment with the help of agents or intermediaries. These "merchants of labour" include relatives who finance a migrant's trip, provide housing and arrange for a job abroad; public employment services; and private recruitment agencies. They also comprise an insalubrious underworld of smugglers and traffickers. The agents who recruit and deploy migrant workers are at the heart of the evolving migration infrastructure, i.e. the network of business and personal ties that is creating a global labour market. This book highlights best practices in the activities and regulation of these merchants of labour as well as innovative strategies to protect migrant workers, underlining the contribution of ILO standards. It covers a broad range of national and regional experiences and puts "merchants of labour" in the wider context of changing employment relationships in globalizing labour markets. (Published in 2006). (Download full text in PDF 1.03 MB)

Competing for global talent Edited by Christiane KUPTSCH and PANG Eng Fong Global talent has never been more mobile or sought after. A complex phenomenon that takes many forms, the movement of people with skills includes migrants crossing borders for temporary stays abroad as well as settlement, students moving for degrees and temporary and permanent stays, and even tourists and refugees who decide to stay abroad and use their skills. Countries attracting global talent increase their stock of human and technological skills, and in the past decade many have welcomed foreign professionals and students to redress domestic skill shortages and to quicken economic growth. This book includes general and theoretical papers on skilled migration and also papers on the country experiences of Australia, India, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It addresses the socio-economic and cultural challenges created by increased mobility in a world where globalizing and localizing forces are at work simultaneously. (Published in 2006). (Download full text in PDF 1.69 MB)

Work in the global economy Edited by Jean-Pierre Laviec, Mitsuko Horiuchi and Kazuo Sugeno The present volume includes the text of the lectures and proceedings of a symposium held in connection with the Sixth Nobel Peace Prize Social Policy Lectures held in the University of Tokyo from 1 to 3 December 2003. The theme of the lectures and the symposium was "New forms and meanings of work in an increasingly globalized world". This volume is brought out as a joint publication of the University of Tokyo, the International Institute for Labour Studies in Geneva and the ILO Office in Tokyo. (Published in 2004). (Download full text in PDF 10.01 MB)

Organized Labour in the 21st Century Edited by A. V. Jose This volume presents the result of comparative research organized by the Institute on "Trade union responses to globalization". It includes a representative sample of country case studies, edited and abridged to illustrate experiences drawn from three broad groups of countries: industrialized economies, middle-income countries, and developing nations. The studies are intended to generate wider understanding of the role and changing priorities of organized labour in countries at varying stages of development. By stimulating greater reflection and analysis, they could contribute to the formulation of effective policies and strategies for labour movements in the years ahead. (Published in 2002). (Download full text in PDF 1.19 MB)

The Future of Work, Employment and Social Protection The dynamics of change and the protection of workers Edited by Peter Auer and Bernard Gazier The volume contains the proceedings of the second France/ILO symposium on the future of work, employment and social protection, which was held in Lyon on 17-18 January 2002. The aim of these symposia, jointly organized by the ILO and the French Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour and Solidarity, was to stimulate in-depth reflections on work, employment and social protection in a globalized world. (Published in 2002). (Download full text in PDF 894 KB, also available in French)

The Future of Work, Employment and Social Protection The search for new securities in a world of growing uncertainties Edited by Peter Auer and Christine Daniel The volume contains the proceedings of the first France/ILO symposium on the Future of Work, Employment and Social Protection which was held in Annecy on 18-19 January 2001. The aim of this symposium, one in a series organized jointly by the ILO and the French Ministry of Employment and Solidarity, was to stimulate an in-depth reflection on work, employment and social protection in a globalized world. It was agreed that the focus would initially be on problems and solutions in developed countries, and that subsequent conferences would take up issues of wider concern. The conferences are intended to stimulate a high-level debate between academics and policy-makers on critical social policy issues. (Published in 2002). (Download full text in PDF 589 KB, also available in French)

Social Exclusion: Rhetoric, Reality, Responses Edited by Gerry Rodgers, Charles Gore and José B. Figueiredo This book is based on the view that there is a need for new approaches to social issues which frame analysis and policy design in a way which takes account of globalization and which does not separate the social from the economic. It explores the value of understanding poverty, deprivation and inequality in terms of the social exclusion of individuals and groups from sources of livelihood and from citizenship rights. It examines both the rhetoric and reality of social exclusion, and possible policy responses. (Published in 1995). (Download part 1 in PDF 5.52 MB) (Download part 2 in PDF 3.52 MB) (Download part 3 in PDF 6.92 MB)

NEW APPROACHES TO POVERTY ANALYSIS AND POLICY - 1 The poverty agenda and the ILO Issues for research and action Edited by Gerry Rodgers A CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD SUMMIT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT This publication is the first in a series of three monographs based on a symposium on poverty which was held at the ILO in Geneva in November 1993. The fight against poverty and for social justice lies at the heart of all the ILO's concerns and the focus of Monograph I is precisely on the approach followed by the ILO with respect to poverty. It comprises a description and critical evaluations of the corresponding research and action programmes of this Organization, covering areas such as employment, social security, labour regulations and relations. (Published in 1995). (Download full text in PDF 10.1 MB)

NEW APPROACHES TO POVERTY ANALYSIS AND POLICY - 2 Reducing poverty through labour market policies Edited by José B. Figueiredo and Zafar Shaheed This publication is the second in a series of three monographs based on a symposium on poverty which was held in the ILO in Geneva in November 1993. Labour market institutions and social security systems are the major mechanisms and instruments in the fight against poverty. For reasons which are to a large extent identified in the chapters of this monograph, the actions to alleviate poverty have proved to be unsatisfactory: they have either failed to reduce its incidence or not managed to reach the most needy among the poor. The labour-poverty nexus is at the heart of this monograph. It is dealt with not only at a policy-instrument or specific level but also from a more general perspective, where the links between poverty and unemployment, labour market segmentation, and low-quality jobs are highlighted. (Published in 1995). (Download full text in PDF 9.46 MB)

NEW APPROACHES TO POVERTY ANALYSIS AND POLICY - 3 The poverty agenda: Trends and policy options Edited by Gerry Rodgers and Rolph van der Hoeven This publication is the third in a series of three monographs based on a symposium on poverty which was held in the ILO in Geneva in November 1993. The growth in numbers of the poor is forcing the poverty issue back on the policy agenda, especially as poverty is increasingly perceived as inter-related with politically visible social problems such as endemic violence in many cities, widespread groups of children vulnerable to abuse and marginalization, the pressure of migration on infrastructure and growing social tension. The eight contributions in this book all attest to the precarious situation of the poor in the various regions of the world, who often have to carry a disproportionate part of the burden of economic change and restructuring. (Published in 1995). (Download full text in PDF 10.4 MB)

Workers, Institutions and Economic Growth in Asia Edited by Gerry Rodgers Behind the success of several countries in East Asia in maintaining high rates of economic growth over long periods lie high levels of investment and remarkable export performance. But economic factors are only part of the story, and some countries in the region have done less well. Labour institutions, such as wage systems, trade unions and labour market segmentation are in the heart of both production and distribution. This book takes a closer look at these issues in Asian settings. It includes analysis of the origins and the effects of labour institutions in theory and practice, and detailed studies of their role in the history of economic development in the Republic of Korea, the Philippines and Thailand. (Published in 1994). (Download full text in PDF 13.6 MB)

Times are Changing Working time in 14 industrialised countries Edited by Gerhard Bosch, Peter Dawkins and François Michon Authors from 14 different countries come together to compare developments in the organisation of working time. The countries include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the USSR and the United States of America. There are chapters covering each country, and an overview chapter which seeks to bring out similarities and differences. Aspects of working time considered include: weekly hours, annual hours, life-time hours, full-time and part-time work, standard and non-standard hours, shorter working weeks, early retirement, temporary work, casual work and shift work. In the editors' overview attention is paid to the causes and influences of similarities and differences. (Published in 1994). (Download full text in PDF 9.74 MB) (Download full text in PDF 6.37 MB)

Creating Economic Opportunities The Role of Labour Standards in Industrial Restructuring Edited by Werner Sengenberger and Duncan Campbell Change is a permanent feature of market economies. Over the past two decades, industrialized countries have witnessed a level of industrial restructuring which, in its scope and tempo, has probably been without historic precedent. Restructuring is never without cost, nor can the process of industrial restructuring be thought of in anything but a superficial way as a mere response to changing market signals. Labour markets, whether those internal to the firm or in the wider economy, are systems built upon labour standards, and standards themselves can be thought of as political constructs, crafted in response to economic and social experience. A central question has become whether labour standards impede necessary changes in economic units, industrial structures, and employment growth. The volume directly addresses this debate and contains a number of contributions which lay out the arguments for and against labour standards in relation to economic performance. (Published in 1994). (Download part 1 in PDF 16.02 MB) (Download part 2 in PDF 9.09 MB)

International labour standards and economic interdependence Edited by Werner Sengenberger and Duncan Campbell In this volume, a select group of academics and policy-makers from government and workers' and employers' organizations present their views on the particular issues posed by the prevailing forces of globalization and various collateral changes, such as high levels of unemployment, increased inequality and a growing informal sector. They discuss the rationale for and against labour standards in the present circumstances; the issue of whether ILO standards should apply equally to developing and developed countries; the related theme of the universality of standards in time and space; contemporary concerns in the setting and application of standards in particular regions and countries. Finally, they reflect on the main arguments for and against a social clause in trade agreements, suggesting how such a clause could be operative or, conversely, how one could never work. (Published in 1994). (Download part 1 in PDF 7.94 MB) (Download part 2 in PDF 7.23 MB) (Download part 3 in PDF 4.58 MB)

Small Firms and Development in Latin America Edited by Brigitte Späth Against a background of crisis, resulting in dramatic declines in economic growth, employment and social conditions, policy-makers in Latin America and elsewhere are looking increasingly at small firms as a panacea for their economic ills. Encouraged by success stories about their ability to adapt to crisis, policy-makers herald small firms as the key to a new economic dynamism which could provide a breakthrough solution to mass unemployment. Does the actual performance of small firms match these expectations? What is the role of the policy environment; of industrial relations; of human resource development? Are there prospects for the economic and socially viable development of small firms? These were among the questions examined at a conference on "Small scale industry and development in Latin America", organised jointly by the International Institute for Labour Studies (Geneva) and the Instituto Latino Americano (São Paulo) in early 1990. (Published in 1993). (Download full text in PDF 9.48MB)

Industrial districts and local economic regeneration Edited by Frank Pyke, and Werner Sengenberger Industrial districts are networks of small and medium-sized firms linked to one another and to local institutions by shared resources and services to form innovative and productive industrial organisations with strong competitive advantages. It has been suggested that industrial districts offer the prospect of a powerful model of endogenous economic development. While this type of industrial organisation is most commonly associated with North Central and North Eastern Italy, there is also evidence of its occurrence in some other countries. The book attempts to provide an in-depth analysis of the organisational principles and policy initiatives that appear to give industrial districts a competitive edge. The authors cover issues such as the importance of various forms of co-operation as a complement to competition; the key role of government institutions; the provision of "real services"; trade unions relations in accordance with the needs of the industrial districts model; the positive advantages of flexible specialisation; and the types of state interventions needed to support the development and growth of industrial districts. (Published in 1992). (Download full text in PDF 15.8 MB)

Industrial Districts and Inter-Firm Co-operation in Italy Edited by F. Pyke, G. Becattini and W. Sengenberger Whilst economies all over the world in the late 1970s and 1980s set into recession and stagnation, frequently accompanied by serious deteriorations in labour and social conditions, rising unemployment and insecurity, a few localities, identified mainly in Western Europe, North America and Japan, and collectively termed industrial districts, have stood out as exhibiting a remarkable resilience and growth. A particular combination of economic, social and institutional arrangements have provided the conditions to enable mainly small firms, organised into characteristic networks of competitive and co-operative relations, to compete very successfully on both national and international markets. (Published in 1990). (Download full text in PDF 12.9MB)

The re-emergence of small enterprises Edited by Werner Sengenberger, Gary W. Loveman and Michael J. Piore Following a number of spectacular success stories about job creation in the 1970s and 1980s, the small and medium-sized enterprises sector has come to be seen as being at the forefront of industrial restructuring, resolving the persistent problems of insufficient employment growth and continuing unemployment. What are the truths about the alleged strength of the SME? Do they match expectations and promises? Based on case studies of the largest industrialised market economy countries, this book summarises what we know to date about the recent development of the SME sector, its composition by types of firms, and its status and role in the economy. It examines, in particular, the issue of job creations, documents shifts of employment from large to small enterprises, and reviews the various explanations offered for this phenomenon. They point to the crucial role of the institutional environment, inter-firm co-operation and support systems as promising routes to SMEs development. (Published in 1990). (Download full text in PDF 7.58 MB) (Download full text in PDF 7.57 MB)

Precarious Jobs in Labour Market Regulation Edited by Gerry and Janine Rodgers This book provides information on the extent of different forms of atypical work and their growth in the 1970s and 1980s, mainly referring to Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. It explores questions such as: What makes work precarious? What are the impacts on the individuals concerned, in terms of incomes, careers, and psychological response? What are the indirect effects on the regular work force of growth in precarious forms of employment? How do changes in the patterns of jobs and contractual arrangements derive from macro-economic conditions or from enterprise strategies? What is the role of the State, as employer or legislator? The papers in this volume are from a workshop, organised jointly by the International Institute for Labour Studies and the Free University of Brussels in September 1988. (Published in 1989). (Download full text in PDF 16.6MB)