Trade agreements and decent work

Recognising the limitations of the ILO’s enforcement instruments, attention has turned to trade agreements as mechanisms for the global protection of workers’ rights. Recent free trade agreements have included labour chapters in line with the decent work agenda. However, they lack robust monitoring and sanctioning mechanisms. Furthermore, the economic benefits of FTAs are overstated and unevenly distributed, while negative impacts on labour standards are likely, particularly in public services through outsourcing. Negotiations prioritise corporate interests to expand profit opportunities and limit government policy space. Civil society buy-in is critical for any social clause to have an impact, and this requires a broader rebuilding of trust and legitimacy in the power of trade agreements to benefit workers and not just the wealthy few. Labour rights chapters must be seen as part of a policy mix rather than a solution in themselves.