Labour standards provisions in regional trade agreements

Abstract

The requirements related to labour legislation are issues on next generation trade and investment agenda. The trend towards the inclusion of labour provisions in regional trade agreements is becoming increasingly common. The most progressive trade agreements are beginning to include specific commitments by parties to amend national labour laws. In addition, new mechanisms are being developed to ensure that labour standards are met by the parties to the agreement. However, to date, no precedents have been known for the application of sanctions for violations of labour rights under RTAs.