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Flashcards in global labour standards Deck (56)
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1
Q

what does the interdependency of countries mean for global labour standards

A

failure of any nations to adopt humane conditions is an obstacle in the way of other nations that desire to improve conditions in their own countries

2
Q

labour is not a _____

A

commodity

3
Q

what does ILO stand for

A

international labour organisation

4
Q

what does csr stand for

A

corporate social responsiblity

5
Q

what percentage of all trade is trade within companies

A

80%

6
Q

what does the credibility of corporate codes of conduct depend on

A

transparency (sub sub contractors),
monitoring,
enforcement (can workers complain),
redress (how do we fix it)

7
Q

what are some things included in corporate codes of conduct and what are some things that are omitted

A

zero tolerance of child labour,
no forced labour,
equal treatment,
omissions,
freedom of association and right to collective bargaining,
explicit reference to international labour standards

8
Q

what is the corporation tax in ireland

A

12.5%

9
Q

why would a shipping company register their ship in ireland or similar country

A

where corporation tax more favourable (12.5% in Ireland)

10
Q

what has happened to the size of container ships over time and why

A

increased over time to exploit economies of scale

11
Q

what does teu stand for

A

twenty-foot equivalent unit (shipping container thing)

12
Q

what does foc stand for

A

flags of convenience

13
Q

flag of convenience d

A

a flag of a country under which a ship is registered in order to avoid financial charges or restrictive regulations in the owner’s country

14
Q

what does itf stand for

A

international transport worker’s federation

15
Q

what sort of things are on an itf (international transport worker’s federation) contract

A
wages, 
hours (overtime),
holiday,
rest periods,
leave,
sick pay
16
Q

what are the conditions for effective international trade unionism

A
organisational comprehensiveness,
inclusiveness (represent everyone),
internal authority,
external recognition (recognised by other organisations),
sufficient resources
17
Q

what are some features of the ilo

A

autonomous body of league of nations,
first specialist agency of the united nations,
only un agency with a tripartite structure (i do not know what this means),
2 government people 1 person who represents employers and 1 who represents workers

18
Q

how many core conventions do the ilo have

A

8,

might need to learn them but do not know at this stage

19
Q

what are some features of achieving decent work

A

securing fundamental workplace rights,
better employment opportunities for all workers,
providing for social protection,
promoting social dialogue

20
Q

what are the six dimensions of the ilo

A
opportunities for work,
freedom of choice of employment,
productive work,
equity in work,
security at work,
dignity at work
21
Q

what is the economic case for labour standards

A

raise standards raise productivity,
poor labour standards not necessarily low labour costs,
greatest inequality in wealth have lowest growth,
countries with freedom of association rights display growth advantages over dictatorship,
suppression of labour standards does not improve trade performance while the converse facilitates trade liberalisation

22
Q

what is the social case for labour standards

A

absolute versus relative labour standards,

universal labour rights versus culture specific standards

23
Q

what are the benefits of international labour standards

A

improves efficiency in world economy (encourages firms to improve efficiency instead of just exploiting workers),
draws attention to social and environmental concerns that are otherwise hidden,
competitive advantage for firms, providing innovative routes to differentiation,
strengthens and challenges national forms of governance

24
Q

what do the ilo not have

A

an enforcement mechanism

25
Q

how much of global trade by volume is carried by sea

A

80%

26
Q

what is the maritime labour convention

A

international standards for working and living conditions of seafarers adopted by the ILO in 2006

27
Q

what does the maritime labour convention include

A
contracts of employment,
wages,
hours of work,
hours of rest,
annual paid leave,
repatriation
28
Q

when was the maritime labour convention

A

2006

29
Q

what is the key enforcement tool for the maritime labour convention

A

maritime labour certificate

30
Q

tell me about the maritime labour certificate

A

as of august 2013 it is required on all commercially registered vessels of 500GT or more on international voyages,
it is the key enforcement tool for the maritime labour convention

31
Q

what does the maritime labour convention lay down standards for

A

decent accommodation spaces,
quality catering,
appropriate on board recreational facilities

32
Q

if a vessel is being inspected for the maritime labour convention, which vessels can be boarded and what happens if the vessel is not in compliance

A

any commercial vessel can be boarded and inspected regardless of flag state, if not in compliance can be detained in port

33
Q

what clause does the maritime labour convention introduce

A

no more favourable treatment clause

34
Q

what does the no more favourable treatment clause mean

A

creates level playing field which means ship owners cannot escape MLC 2006 global standards by registering their ships in a non-ratifying flag state

35
Q

when was the ilo created

A

1919

36
Q

what has the ilo established and developed

A

a system of international labour standards aimed at promoting opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity

37
Q

what did the ilo’s founders recognise

A

that the global economy needed clear rules in order to ensure that economic progress would go hand in hand with social justice, prosperity and peace for all

38
Q

what does the decent work agenda aim to achieve

A

aims to achieve decent work for all by promoting social dialogue, social protection and employment creation, as well as respect for international labour standards

39
Q

what did the international community recognise in 1944

A

labour is not a commodity

40
Q

what is the ilo’s unique tripartite structure

A

standards are backed by governments, employers and workers alike

41
Q

expand on the level playing field idea in the ilo document thing

A

helps governments and employers avoid the temptation of lowering labour standards in belief that it could give them a comparative advantage in international trade

42
Q

what are some negative effects of lowering labour standards

A

encourage spread of low wage, low skill, high turnover industries and prevent a country from developing more stable high skilled employment

43
Q

what does a growing body of research indicate about compliance with international labour standards

A

that compliance often accompanies improvements in productivity and economic performance

44
Q

what can higher wage and working time standards and respect for equality translate into

A

better and more satisfied workers and lower turnover of staff

45
Q

what made the 1997 asian financial crisis, the 2000 dot com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis worse

A

in many of the affected countries the social protection systems (unemployment and health insurance), active labour market policies and social dialogue were non-existent or under tremendous pressure

46
Q

what are international labour standards

A

legal instruments drawn up by the ILO’a constituents (governments, employers and workers) setting out basic principles and rights at work

47
Q

what are international labour standards (one or the other)

A

conventions (which are legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by member states) or recommendations (which serve as non-binding guidelines

48
Q

what is a convention

A

legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by member states

49
Q

what is a recommendation

A

non-binding guidelines

50
Q

how are conventions and recommendations linked

A

convention lays down the basic principles to be implemented by ratifying countries, while a recommendation supplements the convention by providing more detailed guidelines on how it could be applied (recommendations can also be autonomous, not linked to any convention)

51
Q

are conventions and recommendations always linked

A

recommendations can also be autonomous, not linked to any convention

52
Q

who are conventions and recommendations drawn up by

A

representatives of governments, employers and workers and are adopted at the ilo’s annual international labour conference

53
Q

what happens once a standard is adopted

A

member states are required to submit them to relevant authority (parliament) for consideration, in case of conventions this means consideration for ratification, if it is ratified the convention comes into force one year after the date of ratification

54
Q

ratification d

A

the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract or agreement, making it officially valid

55
Q

what is ratification in terms of the ilo

A

formal procedure whereby a state accepts the convention as a legally binding instrument

56
Q

what other areas of influence does the ilo have

A

corporate social responsibility (lots of companies code of conduct refers to ilo standards),
other international organisations,
free trade agreements,
civil society (if want to look at these in more depth it is on the ilo website link on the course outline)