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Role Of The Wto On Addressing Labour Standards

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Appropriate role of the WTO in addressing labour standards

Introduction
The relationship between international trade and labour standards is a key issue today. The relation defines the link between developing countries and advanced industrialized nations. International enforcement of labour standards is justifiable from two frontiers of arguments. The first one opines that “unfair” labour conditions and practices exist in many countries and trading partners and call for the need to offset an occurrence through appropriate trade policy measures in a bid to level the playing field (Elliott & Richard 2003, p. 67). The proponents of the argument include organized social and labour activists. Secondly, other social activists contend that …show more content…

147). Such standards are aimed at enforcing the adherence to WTO agreements by trading countries that have signed and ratified the WTO agreement. Most issues dealt with by the WTO derive from previous trade negotiations such as the Uruguay Round (1986–1994). All measures are taken with the view of raising standards of living and ensuring full employment (Brown 200, p. 971). To achieve its objectives, it undertakes a series of trade liberalizing agreements reached on consensus from the WTO 's members forming the General Council.
Labour standards under the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Labour Standards in the World Trade Organization refer to the binding rules forming part of the principles and jurisprudence applicable within the rule making structures of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The labour standards play a critical role within the WTO. Despite them being a backbone in the WTO, they form a prominent issue facing the WTO hence generating academic and economic debates (Rodrik 1997, p.37). The scope to which the WTO recognizes labour standards is based on the principles established in Conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and renowned human rights treaties such as the International Bill of Human Rights.

Core Labour Standards
The core labour standards are identified by the 'Declaration of the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work ' by the International Labour Organization (ILO). They are widely acknowledged for their

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