Monitoring International Labor Standards Summary of Domestic Forums (2003) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
6 Question-and-Answer Sessions
6 Question-and-Answer Sessions
Pages 63-72
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From page 63... ...
It is important to have a means for monitoring and measuring compliance at companies, but this becomes very complex at the country level and probably not possible, given the constraints on data and interpretive capabilities; you would need an expert for every country to tease out the nuances in the data. Neil Kearney (International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation)
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From page 64... ...
The existence of independent unions that are free to act in the interests of workers would go a long way toward eliminating violations of ILS. The issue of too many codes creating confusion among factory managers is a red herring; these same factories apparently have little trouble handling the extremely complex tasks involved in making clothing.
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From page 65... ...
In terms of monitoring compliance with core ILS, unions will become more active once a database is developed because it will provide a legitimate source of information that can't be attacked by critics as biased. Mila Rosenthal Unions can't overcome some problems, such as the active suppression of the right to freedom of association, if the government is not willing to enforce laws or if it narrowly defines the standards for forming a union.
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From page 66... ...
The European Parliament resolution has called on pension funds to take into account various labor rights issues when they are investing, and this is a trend at the national level throughout Europe. QUESTION: What should Ire in the database?
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From page 67... ...
The most important question is how to measure freedom of association. This would involve looking at the percentage of the workforce that is unionized, the percentage covered by collective bargaining, the incidence of termination of union leaders and workers who are trying to organize, the number of fines paid for labor law violations, and the amount of violent crime against union workers.
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From page 68... ...
Anna WaLker (United States Council for International Business) The data to be collected depends on what purpose the database serves is it for consumers to use to make buying clecisions, or is it for the government to use to identify countries with labor rights compliance problems?
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From page 69... ...
The agreement was based on the major ILO Conventions, and it is the first international agreement to cover workers in the southern hemisphere. It has improved labor-management relations and working conditions in Chiquita's facilities and those of its suppliers, even though it does not include any sanctions for labor rights violations.
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From page 70... ...
QUESTION: Are the many ILO Conventions, two major guidelines (ILO and OECD9, and thousands of codes of conduct harming the movement to improve compliance with core labor standards? Pharis Harvey (International Labor Rights Fund)
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From page 71... ...
In Latin America over the past 20 years, there has been a systematic dismantling of the state apparatus, and this has left many countries incapable of monitoring and enforcing basic labor laws. What is needed is a reempowerment of the state so that it can perform its rightful functions, including enforcing labor standards.
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