Social clause

Within the context of international trade, a social clause is the integration of seven core ILO labour rights conventions into trade agreements.

Background

Core labour standards would be inserted into an article within the WTO Agreements which could be a more viable option than amendment of the Agreements themselves. If a member state violated the social clause, the breach could become subject to WTO scrutiny, through the usual WTO dispute settlement provisions (provided provision is made for this when inserting a social clause). As a result of dispute settlement proceedings, the DSB could, at the request of the complaining party, recommend that retaliatory trade measures be taken against the offending country.

Core ILO conventions

• Freedom of association and collective bargaining (Conventions 87 and (98);
• Abolition of forced labour (Convention 29 and 105);
• Prevention of discrimination in employment and equal pay for work of equal value (Conventions 111 and 100);
• Minimum age for the employment of children (Convention 138)

See also

• Decent work agenda of the ILO
• International Labour Organization Conventions
• Labour movement