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The Enforcement of Minimum Labour Standards in an Era of Neo-Liberal Globalisation: An Overview

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

Michael Quinlan  and
Peter Sheldon
Michael Quinlan
Affiliation:
The University of New South Wales
Peter Sheldon
Affiliation:
The University of New South Wales
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Abstract

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This article has three objectives. First, we examine what is meant by minimum labour standards, including the array of different standards and their procedural and substantive elements, in differing or even diverging regulatory jurisdictions. Examination of different areas of labour standards provides instruction in the dynamics of these protections and we give illustrative examples, from several countries. The second objective is to highlight the importance of enforcement of standards. We do this through a brief historical overview of the emergence of labour standards as well as of how the recent rise of neo-liberalism has shaped current debates over their development and application. The third element of the analysis is an examination of some contemporary debates, pointing to areas requiring further study as well as to positive examples both in research and in policy/regulation.

Keywords

J3J8L5Chinadecent worklabour standards enforcementminimum labour standardsneoliberalismoccupational healthprocedural rightssubstantive union rightsvulnerable workersworking conditions
Type
Symposium
Information
The Economic and Labour Relations Review , Volume 22 , Issue 2: Minimum Labour Standards and Their Enforcement , July 2011 , pp. 5 - 31
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2011

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