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labour | workers’ rights


Women file complaint over gender discrimination in US temporary work programs
A group of Mexican migrant worker women have used the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to launch a complaint over discrimination in temporary labor programs.
China-EU comprehensive agreement on investment: Ineffective in protecting labour rights and acting on environmental justice
Without thinking about environmental action beyond emissions and enacting binding agreements on protecting workers’ rights, China and the EU fail at making meaningful change for both labour and environmental justice.
Two steps forward, one step back for Vietnam’s labor rights
Several EU statements still refer to EVFTA as helping to create "trade unions" in Vietnam, but WROs are different in many ways. They are only allowed to collectively bargain and organize strikes at the individual enterprise level, meaning they are restricted to individual companies.
CPTPP: More freedom for capitalists, more exploitation for workers
Behind the rhetoric of ‘liberalisation’, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is nothing more than vehicle for exploitation and global inequality.
China’s labour rights issues a threat to its trade deal with EU
In the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment is expected to face intense resistance from some European lawmakers, while international unionists, who say the pact will do nothing to stop human rights abuses or protect labour rights in China, have vowed to ramp up pressure over the deal.
Could Biden make US-China trade better for workers?
If decoupling is not in the cards, the United States must find a way to ensure trade improves the lives of workers – on both sides of the Pacific.
China-backed RCEP trade deal unlikely to benefit developing members in short term, analysts say
The Regional Cooperation Economic Partnership (RCEP) is unlikely to bring immediate significant benefits for its developing member countries in terms of flow of goods and services or major infrastructure investments, analysts and economists said.
How the trade deal Boris Johnson is pursuing threatens workers’ rights
The danger is that the UK Prime Minister is eager to get a deal, so he could accept whatever terms the CPTPP countries demand.
Biden to focus on trade enforcement after years of Trump tariffs
President Joe Biden’s administration is setting up its trade policy to prioritize enforcement of existing commitments by the US’s partners over negotiating more deals to open new export markets.
British and Turkish unions want to suspend fledgling trade deal over labor concerns
UK government urged to use deal to demand Turkey ‘recognizes and respects’ labor standards.
EU-China investment deal lacks teeth on forced labor but could still be derailed
Potential gains not worth cost of overlooking ’blatant human rights violations’ in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Tibet, and against Taiwan’: French senator
EU will not ask China to sign forced labor ban before ratifying investment deal, says French minister
France will insist on a ‘calendar’ for Beijing’s reforms instead.
Corporate-led trade deals are coming to Britain – and unions have to be ready
The Tories are trying to shut workers out of Britain’s post-Brexit trade deals, writes Unite’s Tony Burke.
China and EU leaders strike investment deal, but political hurdles await
The agreement, which would roll back restrictions on investment, faces some opposition in Europe and objections from the Biden camp.
Xinjiang forced labour concerns threaten to derail China’s investment deal with EU
Officials say European Parliament could refuse to endorse deal over Beijing’s failure to commit to International Labour Organisation standards
RCEP has limited trade gains and ignores labour and human rights
Australia’s recent signature of the RCEP has attracted world attention for its significance in consolidating Asia-Pacific geopolitical relations. But in celebrating this agreement, we seem to have forgotten its unfinished business regarding labour and human rights.
Union movements: Potential UK-Norway trade deal must not be a race to the bottom
Trade unions in UK and Norway have set out clear principles for a future trade agreement.
What is RCEP and why are Trade Unions in the Asia-Pacific Region concerned about It?
Even as the new agreement between ASEAN nations and its free trade partners establishes the largest trading bloc in the world, it is vehemently being opposed by labor unions, trade justice groups and women’s movements
Labour unions in Asia Pacific condemn RCEP deal
Labour unions in Asia Pacific condemn this outcome and will continue working with our affiliates and allies to intervene in the enactment, ratification and implementation process of RCEP.
Unions insist they must be consulted on trade deals
Unions in the UK, Australia and New Zealand have joined forces to call for decent jobs and workers’ rights to be protected under any deals on trade.