1、 April 1, 2014 Worker Rights Provisions in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) Overview The issue of worker rights has become prominent in the negotiation of U.S. FTAs. Some stakeholders believe that worker rights provisions are necessary to protect U.S. labor from perceived unfair competition and to raise
2、 standards in other countries. Others believe that worker rights are more appropriately addressed at the International Labor Organization (ILO) or through cooperative efforts and capacity building on worker rights. Since 1988, Congress has included worker rights as a principal negotiating objective
3、in Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) (previously known as fast-track) legislation. The United States has been in the forefront of using trade agreements to promote core internationally-recognized worker rights. Worker rights provisions in FTAs have evolved significantly since the North American Free T
4、rade Agreement (NAFTA), moving from side agreements to integral chapters within FTA texts, along with cooperation and enforcement provisions. The International Labor Organization The ILO is the primary multilateral organization responsible for promoting labor standards through international conventi