Pelin Sekerler Richiardi

This study contributes to the literature on the relationship between trade, labour and environmental sustainability by providing empirical evidence at the firm level. For this purpose, it first explores whether exporting firms are more likely than non-exporting firms to adopt green measures. Second, it assesses how labour market outcomes such as productivity, wages, education level of workers, and training provided by firms may vary between green exporters and firms that do not engage in trade or undertake green measures. The study finds that exporting firms have a significantly higher probability of adopting green measures than do non-exporting firms. In addition, on average, among exporting firms, those that implement green measures tend to have higher levels of productivity, pay higher wages, offer more training and have a similar share of workers with a university degree in comparison with exporters that do not implement green measures. However, the gain in labour productivity associated with exporting and the adoption of green measures does not seem to translate into higher wages in lower-middle-income and upper-middle-income countries; it only does so in high-income countries.

This chapter the authors explore the links between exporting and importing in small and medium-sized enterprises and several decent work indicators in Viet Nam. Using micro data and techniques, it finds that trade is positively associated with the presence of written formal contracts, social protection coverage represented through insurance for healthcare, unemployment benefits and sick leave.

Explores first how CSR initiatives can support the objective of extending social protection. Then, on the basis of privately held data provided by L’Oréal, it analyses whether the implementation of the program has led to any changes in the benefits provided by L’Oréal firms in different countries. Finally, it explores the links between two indicators related to firm performance (turnover and absenteeism) and the different elements of the program based on quantitative methodologies. The analysis is limited based on data availability; thus, the paper makes some suggestions about how the effects of the program could be better evaluated with access to more specific indicators.

Las disposiciones laborales han pasado a ser un componente habitual de los acuerdos comerciales y presentan un ámbito de aplicación cada vez más amplio. El presente Manual proporciona información práctica y accesible, en un formato destinado a un público no especializado en la materia, sobre los distintos enfoques relativos al contenido y los mecanismos de aplicación de las disposiciones laborales (incluyendo cooperación técnica y diálogo). El Manual presenta distintos casos de estudio enfocados en la implementación de las disposiciones laborales, sus efectos y desafíos. Asimismo, se enfatiza la importancia de la participación de las partes interesadas en la aplicación de dichas disposiciones. Finalmente, el Manual explora otras áreas relacionadas con el comercio y el trabajo, tales como las cadenas globales de suministro, la responsabilidad social corporativa y las consideraciones de género en los acuerdos comerciales.

Labour provisions have become more commonplace in trade agreements and increasingly comprehensive in their scope. The Handbook provides practical information in a format geared towards non-specialist audiences focusing on different approaches regarding the content and implementation mechanisms of labour provisions (including technical cooperation and dialogue). In this regard, the Handbook presents different case-studies, with particular focus on implementation of the labour provisions, specific effects, and challenges. Particularly, it emphasizes the importance of stakeholders’ involvement in the implementation of the provisions. In addition, the Handbook explores other areas related to trade and labour, such as global supply chains, corporate social responsibility provisions in trade agreements and gender considerations.

Nearly half of trade agreements concluded in the past five years included either a labour chapter or labour provision that makes reference to international labour standards and ILO instruments. The evidence so far suggests that labour provisions have been an important tool for raising awareness and improving laws and legislation with respect to workers’ rights, increasing stakeholder involvement in negotiation and implementation phases, and developing domestic institutions to better monitor and enforce labour standards. But challenges remain, particularly with respect to sustainability of impacts, coherence, and cooperative efforts. This report, part of the Studies on Growth with Equity series, gives a full examination of the scope and effectiveness of these labour provisions.