EU-Asia connectivity - Enhancing labour standards through trade
At a public hearing on EU-Asia connectivity in the European Parliament, the ILO stressed the importance of promoting labour standards compliance through trade and recalled the long-term benefits of labour provisions in trade agreements.
23 January 2019
At a public hearing in the European Parliament, stakeholders discussed the ways in which Europe and Asia are connecting with different parts of the world. The speakers compared the approach of these geo-economic actors to trade and infrastructure development, such as for example China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a development strategy adopted by the Chinese government involving investments in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Tim De Meyer, Senior Adviser at the ILO, underlined the need to create a level-playing field through International Labour Standards (ILS), to ensure that countries do not lower labour standards to boost their competitiveness. While recognising that developing countries have their own development trajectory to follow, he recalled that upholding labour standards may bring long-term benefits to Member States, such as good governance and social cohesion.
De Meyer described the labour standards situation in Asia as “very diverse comparing to Europe”. Approximately two-thirds of the ILO Member States in Asia and the Pacific have ratified the ILO’s Fundamental Conventions, while the European region has achieved full ratification of all Fundamental Conventions.
Although there is a genuine interest in Asia in the ILO’s normative work, one can still observe a reluctance to commit, particularly to technical standards, including those having regard to wages.
As a way forward, De Meyer underlined that despite the fact that the human rights argument is not playing an influential role in Asia in enhancing ILS, trade schemes and agreements are “giving an enormous leverage to keep them on the political agendas”.
The number of Free Trade Agreements including labour provisions has doubled between 2010 and 2015, leading to an increase of 28% in trade volume and an increase in labour force participation, especially among women.
Tim De Meyer, Senior Adviser at the ILO, underlined the need to create a level-playing field through International Labour Standards (ILS), to ensure that countries do not lower labour standards to boost their competitiveness. While recognising that developing countries have their own development trajectory to follow, he recalled that upholding labour standards may bring long-term benefits to Member States, such as good governance and social cohesion.
De Meyer described the labour standards situation in Asia as “very diverse comparing to Europe”. Approximately two-thirds of the ILO Member States in Asia and the Pacific have ratified the ILO’s Fundamental Conventions, while the European region has achieved full ratification of all Fundamental Conventions.
Although there is a genuine interest in Asia in the ILO’s normative work, one can still observe a reluctance to commit, particularly to technical standards, including those having regard to wages.
As a way forward, De Meyer underlined that despite the fact that the human rights argument is not playing an influential role in Asia in enhancing ILS, trade schemes and agreements are “giving an enormous leverage to keep them on the political agendas”.
The number of Free Trade Agreements including labour provisions has doubled between 2010 and 2015, leading to an increase of 28% in trade volume and an increase in labour force participation, especially among women.