International Labor Standards
WTO Director General Renato Ruggiero has suggested four points on which a consensus on this difficult issue, trade and labor standards, might be built. In his consultations with member states, Mr. Ruggiero has found wide support for the four points, which are as follows:
1.All WTO member nations oppose abusive work place practices, through their approval of the United Nations
Universal Declaration of Human Rights2.The International Labor Organization holds primary responsibility for labor issues.
3.Trade sanctions should not be used to deal with disputes over labor standards.
4. Member states agree that the comparative advantage of low wage countries should not be compromised.
The purpose of this web site, is to examine these four controversial points. The first step is to understand the missions of these organizations, primarily the World Trade Organization, the International labor Organization, the ICFTU, international center for free trade union, the IMF, intentional monetary fund, the World Bank, and the ITD, international trade and development center, which is a cooperation of the world bank and the WTO. Second we will look at each point individually. Examining the different definitions of work place abuse, forced labor, trade, labor standards and protectionism. Understanding the context of both the WTO and the ILO. Many resources are provided for further in depth understanding of both sides of this controversial debate that has now taken over globalization.