Labour rights in Export Processing Zones with a focus on GSP+ beneficiary countries
The European Union’s GSP+ scheme provides trade concessions to beneficiary countries and obliges them to ratify and effectively implement key international conventions on human rights and labour rights. The sectoral gains of GSP+ have thus far been concentrated on exports of apparel, textiles and processed fish. Such sectors are often located in Export Processing Zones (EPZs) where the governance of labour rights may differ from the rest of the country and fall below international legal standards. This study examines the apparel sectors of Pakistan, Mongolia and Sri Lanka and the processed fish sector of the Philippines. The importance of EPZs to exports under the GSP+ varies by country and sector. Only in Pakistan are EPZs legally exempt from rights relating to freedom of association and collective bargaining. But restrictions on these and other rights in practice remain widespread, and are not confined to EPZs. Efforts to promote labour rights through the GSP+ should focus on key export sectors benefitting from the scheme and consider EPZs alongside other sites of the supply chain where exploited workers are based.
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Autor externo
Benjamin RICHARDSON, James HARRISON and Liam CAMPLING
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Palabra clave
- AGRICULTURA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCA
- Asia-Oceanía
- cláusula social
- comercio internacional
- condiciones y organización del trabajo
- condición de trabajo
- construcción europea
- DERECHO
- Derecho del trabajo
- Derecho internacional
- Derecho laboral internacional
- derechos y libertades
- EMPRESA Y COMPETENCIA
- Filipinas
- GEOGRAFÍA
- geografía económica
- INDUSTRIA
- industria de la confección
- industria del cuero e industria textil
- industria pesquera
- integración de la perspectiva de género
- INTERCAMBIOS ECONÓMICOS Y COMERCIALES
- libertad sindical
- Mongolia
- negociación colectiva
- organización de la empresa
- Pakistán
- papel internacional de la UE
- pesca
- política comercial
- política comercial común
- política y estructura industriales
- preferencias generalizadas
- relaciones laborales y Derecho del trabajo
- responsabilidad social de la empresa
- Sri Lanka
- TRABAJO Y EMPLEO
- UNIÓN EUROPEA
- zona franca industrial