Abstract
Can trade agreements be used as a tool for improving the conditions under which people work? The evidence from this study suggests this is not the case, even if the country in question—in this instance South Korea—is a well-developed and democratic country. While over the past six years South Korea has taken part in a number of Free Trade Agreements containing labour provisions, the impact of these on enabling rights has been rather low. This would suggest that without the willingness to enforce these parts of the agreements, or without the willingness to implement them on the Korean side, the inclusion of such provisions remains a fairly symbolic undertaking.
Highlights
The large amount of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that have been negotiated over the past 25 years— involving all World Trade Organization (WTO) members (WTO, 2017a)—demonstrates the importance that States attach to increasing trade as an engine for economic growth
This is illustrated by the fact that in 2013, almost 25% of the trade agreements registered at the WTO as being concluded or notified included labour standards provisions (International Labour Organization [ILO], 2015, p. 19)
Article 13.2.2. of the EU–Korea FTA and article 5.2.1 of the Turkey–Korea FTA are even stronger with respect to this commitment; “The Parties stress that...labour standards should not be used for protectionist trade purposes”
Summary
The large amount of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that have been negotiated over the past 25 years— involving all World Trade Organization (WTO) members (WTO, 2017a)—demonstrates the importance that States attach to increasing trade as an engine for economic growth. FTAs might lead to a situation in which countries try to increase their competitiveness by continuously keeping their labour standards lower than other countries, or even lowering them This concern is illustrated by a recent statement of international trade unions: “International trade and investment agreements have contributed to growing imbalances between and within countries. While research on the relationship between FTAs and labour protection has resulted in mixed outcomes, FTAs are increasingly seen as providing an opportunity to set minimum standards for the signatory countries This is illustrated by the fact that in 2013, almost 25% of the trade agreements registered at the WTO as being concluded or notified included labour standards provisions
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