Labor Rights Research Articles

Aligning the new work environment with OECD Goal 8: a design case of a global automobile brand from Turkey

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the economic sustainability of new work environments by exploring how interior design strategies can contribute to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8, which focuses on decent work and economic growth. SDG 8 aims to foster sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic development, as well as full and productive employment. Design/methodology/approach The pilot study was conducted at a global automobile brand’s largest facility in Kocaeli/Turkey, where 102 employees participated in stakeholder meetings divided into 18 groups. Additionally, 46 employees were interviewed through focus groups and one-on-one sessions across nine encounters. The collected data were analyzed using deductive thematic analysis, interpreting codes and themes related to spatial politics, timing politics and hybrid working culture in the new work environment. Findings Identified themes include individually focused tasks, virtual collaboration, agile working, socialization and urban interaction. These themes are then traced through the conceptual design proposal developed by the interior design team and discussed in relation to their alignment with SDG 8.2 (diversify, innovate and upgrade for economic productivity), SDG 8.4 (improve resource efficiency in consumption and production) and SDG 8.8 (protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers). Research limitations/implications These three targets (for inclusivity and innovation, for environmentally sustainable and for employee well-being) were selected for their relevance in shaping the physical work environment. Originality/value The key finding of this paper is the need for a deeper understanding of economic sustainability in interior design and the contribution of SDG 8 targets on the spatial, temporal and cultural dimensions of new work environments. Brands committed to sustainability must adopt new work models and reimagine their work environments to enhance employee satisfaction and performance, through comprehensive user research and design solutions aligned with SDG 8.

“Can you ban the bees from the honey?”: exploring an integrated labour law and geographical indications approach for protecting the rights of forest-dwelling communities over non-timber forest produce

ABSTRACT In this article, we study the fragmented approach of two Indian statutes, namely, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 (“FRA 2006”) and the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999 (“GIA 1999”). The article critically examines the labour law approach under the FRA 2006 and intellectual property ownership under the GIA 1999 with a specific focus on the production and commercialization of non-timber forest produce. The analysis leads to an argument for an integrated approach that starts with recognizing the agency of the communities, followed by guaranteeing protections under the labour rights approach and integrated protection through GIs. The integrated approach would facilitate cooperative experiments that go beyond strict private and public law distinctions. This can offer sustainable livelihood opportunities for forest-dwelling communities.

O TRABALHO INFORMAL, A ECONOMIA INFORMAL E OS DEFASIOS ASSOCIADOS À PRECARIZAÇÃO DO TRABALHO

The lack of effective public policies to address the precariousness of informal work has profound consequences, including increased social inequality, economic vulnerability, and the violation of labor rights. This issue is relevant not only from an economic point of view, but also from a legal and social point of view, as it involves the protection of fundamental human rights, such as the right to decent work and social protection. By critically analyzing existing legislation, identifying gaps, and proposing new legislative approaches, the survey can offer valuable insights for the formulation of more effective public policies and for strengthening the legal framework for the protection of informal workers. Additionally, by considering the nuances and complexities of the legal issues involved, research can help develop more sophisticated and relevant legal theories and concepts to address emerging labor market challenges. Although there is a vast academic literature on informal work and the precariousness of work, there is a significant lack of studies that address these issues from an in-depth legal perspective. The proposed research will fill this gap by providing a detailed analysis of the legal issues related to informal work and identifying concrete legal strategies to address the challenges of job insecurity. In this way, it will contribute to the advancement of legal knowledge in this area and to the development of more effective approaches to address the challenges of informal work and precariousness.

Entangled Independence: From Labor Rights to Gig "Empowerment" Under the Algorithmic Gaze

This study offers a critical analysis of how the Indian gig platform, Urban Company (UC), mobilizes the promise of empowerment to assemble, discipline and algorithmically entangle its gig labor force. Much of the scholarship on gig work has described how the (mis)classification of gig workers as independent contractors allows gig corporations to abdicate their employment responsibilities, thereby disentangling the traditional employer-employee relationship. By contrast, UC promises to invest in it's Indian gig workforce, with offerings such as health insurance and financial loans to counter the enduring socio-economic precarity of the Indian labor market. However, through a critical content analysis of UCs' public media, we find that UC's organization of such ''social security'' benefits rests on an insidious system of algorithmic evaluation and classification. Access to benefits is conditional, determined by the platform's algorithmic control mechanisms, which classify workers as worthy or unworthy on a shifting basis. Mobilizing Agre's analysis of business discourses of ''empowered work'', we highlight how UC's algorithmic classification of workers creates a system of ''conditional empowerment.'' This system reflects a critical shift in the labor process, from rights-based labor regimes to a neoliberal social order where individuals must constantly prove their worth.

Discrimination Based on Political or Other Opinions: Impact on the Labor Rights of Probationary Employees and Interns

Abstract The probation (trial) period employment contract and the internship are characterized by certain specificity in Georgian law. The issue of protecting the labor rights of probationary employees and interns, especially the termination of the contract, is even more specific. Moreover, the issue of political or other views, as one of the types of freedom of expression and the form of discrimination is interesting in the internship and trial period labor relationship. Based on the specificity of the Georgian case law, due to the simple termination of the probation period (trial period) employment contract, it is possible that the employer may abuse his right and thus violate the rights of the employee and/or intern. The following article mainly focuses on the research of these issues. The article also analyses the recent approaches of the Georgian courts’ practice and several cases of the International Court of Justice, which are the most well-known and often cited cases in foreign legal literature.

Decent Work Agenda in Botswana: Strides and Challenges

The Decent Work Agenda (DWA) in Botswana provides a comprehensive framework designed to promote fair labour practices, enhance worker rights, and foster sustainable economic growth. This article analyses the progress achieved in executing the decent work agenda, focusing on enhancements in labour standards, gender equality and inclusion, and capacity building and training. Furthermore, it illustrates the ongoing challenges that delay progress, including elevated unemployment rates, informal employment, and migration and labour rights. The analysis utilises multiple policy recommendations, highlighting the necessity of reinforcing labour rights and protections, advancing skills development, and improving stakeholder involvement in policy formulation. Addressing these challenges and leveraging existing successes will enable Botswana to develop a more inclusive labour market that adheres to the principles of decent work, thereby enhancing the nation's long-term economic sustainability and social equity. The findings highlight the significance of a collaborative approach among government, civil society, and the private sector to effectively implement the decent work agenda, ensuring it yields measurable benefits for all workers in Botswana.

TELETRABALHO E SEUS IMPACTOS NOS DIREITOS TRABALHISTAS: NOVAS REALIDADES E REGULAMENTAÇÕES

Currently, with the significant development and expansion of information and communication technologies, the possibility of working from anywhere has become an attractive and promising reality. Through remote work, employees can perform their tasks outside the company's physical environment, which is transforming the landscape of labor relations, bringing both benefits and challenges to employers and employees. Although it has gained momentum in recent years, especially during the pandemic, remote work also raises complex issues regarding labor rights and the necessary regulations to protect both parties. The flexibility offered by this modality requires regulations to protect workers from overwork, provide support for physical and mental health, and ensure that costs are not disproportionately shifted to the employee. The creation of new standards, particularly concerning the right to disconnect and accountability for expenses, is essential to balance the benefits of remote work with the protection of labor rights in this new work reality.

Navigating Ethical Dilemmas: The Role of AI in Supply Chain Decision-Making

Current times in which supply chains are increasingly viewed as being uncouth in the practice of their operations call for the integration of AI to thereby solve ethical dilemmas within such chains. This paper delves into the role played by AI to navigate ethical dilemmas in supply chains, thereby discussing its ability to resolve challenges such as labor rights, environmental sustainability, and responsible sourcing. Through this literature review, the current research is able to draw on existing work on AI applications within the supply chain and highlight gaps concerning ethical implications. The paper illustrates the real benefits and challenges surrounding the application of these technologies through case studies of those organizations which successfully implement AI-driven tools for ethical decision-making. The framework proposed should, therefore, bring about actionable recommendations to the business on attaining such a balance between operational efficiency and ethical responsibility. Lessons contained in the overall suggest the necessary use of AI to construct a more transparent and accountable supply chain landscape but lead to a more sustainable and ethically sound business landscape

Assessing the Influence of Social Justice Movements on Public Policy and Community Empowerment in Indonesia

This paper explores the influence of social justice movements on public policy and community empowerment in Indonesia through a juridical analysis. By examining key legal documents, court rulings, and government policies, the study assesses how social justice movements have shaped the legal landscape in areas such as labor rights, environmental protection, and gender equality. The findings reveal that social justice movements have successfully influenced the development of laws and policies aimed at addressing systemic inequalities, though challenges remain in their implementation. Furthermore, the research highlights how these movements have empowered marginalized communities by providing them with the tools and resources to advocate for their rights. The study concludes that while social justice movements have made significant strides in influencing public policy, continuous efforts are needed to ensure effective enforcement and sustained community empowerment.

Enforcement of EU Labour Law: Legal foundations and the role of the CJEU

Labour law enforcement is crucial for achieving its social objectives, yet it often faces significant challenges in terms of its capacity to ensure the effective protection of labour rights. In the EU context, effective enforcement of labour law is further complicated by the absence of a sectoral, i.e., labour-specific, approach and the challenges in implementing EU substantive rules, often stipulated in Directives. The article assesses the enforcement landscape of EU labour law and particularly the legal foundations and the CJEU's role. Focusing on key enforcement issues, the analysis highlights how the constitutional right to an effective judicial remedy, as interpreted by the CJEU, and the inclusion of more comprehensive enforcement provisions in EU Directives are mitigating to some extent the existing fragmentation in the EU regulatory landscape, and concludes with considering future directions in EU labour law enforcement.

Challenging the Promises of Institutional Reform to Protect Labor Rights in Bangladesh

Challenging the Promises of Institutional Reform to Protect Labor Rights in Bangladesh

22Panel Established Pursuant to Article 31-A.5.3 of the usmca. Mexico – Measures concerning Labor Rights at the San Martin Mine (MEX-USA-2023-31A-01), 26 April 2024

22Panel Established Pursuant to Article 31-A.5.3 of the usmca. Mexico – Measures concerning Labor Rights at the San Martin Mine (MEX-USA-2023-31A-01), 26 April 2024

Triple Pillar for Sustainability of Accounting Evaluation of Carbon Emissions and Climate Change

This study is among the first to address the relationship between accounting and adaptation to climate change. Aramco is a well-known company in the Middle East that produces oil, and it was used as a case study. This study examines the theoretical underpinnings of accounting assessment of carbon emissions arising from climate change and their influence on sustainability. The questionnaire was distributed to approximately 150 Saudi Arabian managers. The researcher used an analytical descriptive technique and the Statistical Packages Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) to assess the sample, fill out, tabulate, analyze the data, and test the hypotheses. The findings demonstrate that accounting for carbon emissions affects sustainable development in its three pillars-economic, social, and environmental. Further, the sub-hypothesis’s results indicate that accounting for carbon emissions statistically impacts sustainable development’s economic and environmental aspects. Accounting for carbon emissions has no discernible impact on sustainable development through the social component. The researcher advocated that the social aspect of sustainable development should be given attention. Large corporations are made aware of their significance in achieving environmental sustainability and that failing to adopt labor and human rights standards will result in companies being held accountable.

S. Yu. Chucha. Ensuring and protecting social and labor rights in the context of transformation of the sphere of labor and employment. Moscow: Prospekt, 2024. – 446 pp.

The article presents a review of the fundamental monograph by S. Yu. Chucha, dedicated to the problems of ensuring and protecting social and labor rights in the context of transformation of the sphere of labor and employment in modern conditions. The reviewer characterizes all six sections of the monograph and then discusses some controversial issues. In particular, the scientific discussion concerns the historical stages of the origin of the branch of Labor (employment) Law, the expansion of the subject of Labor Law through Civil Law, some aspects related to the use of platform labor, remote labor and artificial intelligence technology.

Transnational labour governance: Crafting the authority and regulatory effectiveness of global agreements

The development of cross-border social dialogue to improve conditions for global workers includes transnational company agreements. These private governance agreements, inter alia, encourage company and union parties to share responsibility for protecting labour rights and standards throughout their operations. In particular, the Global Framework Agreement (GFA), with declared global reach inclusive of suppliers and robust joint measures for regulatory compliance, contributes a significant resource of potentiality for actor utility and local application. This article shows that concrete asymmetries of political-economy power in multinational companies are affected by attribution and expression of moral-political authority engendered by the GFA, and diverse actor responses to that authority. Generation and distribution of that authority among parties facilitates action toward more responsible and effective multilevel transnational labour governance.

The Environmental and Social Impacts of Fast Fashion on Youth: A Statistical Analysis

This abstract presents a concise overview of the research conducted on the impact It has gained significant popularity among young consumers due to its affordability and accessibility. However, this abstract highlights the adverse effects of fast fashion on youth in various aspects, including environmental sustainability, labor rights, and psychological well-being. The first section explores the environmental consequences of fast fashion. It discusses the excessive consumption and disposal of clothing, leading to significant resource depletion, pollution, and landfill waste. The detrimental effects of textile production, such as water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, are also examined. Moreover, the concept of planned obsolescence and its contribution to a throwaway culture are discussed, emphasizing the need for sustainable alternatives. Fast fashion is being recognized as a prominent force in today's swiftly expanding fashion business, revolutionizing the way young people consume and engage with apparel. manufacturing and consumption of stylish, inexpensive clothing that are frequently inspired by runway trends and popular culture. While fast fashion is currently rising in popularity among young people throughout the world, its influence reaches far beyond passing fashion fads. implications of rapid fashion on teenage behavior, environment, and general well-being. Fast fashion is linked to unsustainable manufacturing and consumption practices, which cause severe environmental destruction. Fast fashion's environmental repercussions and lingering impacts on the earth, including as depletion of resources, and trash creation, can be illuminated through research. Fast fashion is based on low-cost production, which is frequently done in underdeveloped nations where workers endure terrible working conditions and low salaries. Learning about the social and economic repercussions on teenagers in these places can help improve working conditions and promote fair trade practices. In this research we will be using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). As per the SPSS Analysis we get to know that in Reliability Statistics Cronbach’s Alpha is 0.784, Cronbach's Alpha Based on Standardized Items is 0.790 and Number of Items is 7. From the above results I conclude that in Reliability Statistics Cronbach’s Alpha is 0.784, Cronbach's Alpha Based on Standardized Items is 0.790 and Number of Items is 7.

Reproducing and reformulating categories of skill in regional and global migration governance: evidence from India and Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Approximately one-third of the world’s 169 million migrant workers come from the Asia and Pacific region, primarily working in temporary, low-wage jobs in the Gulf, where they face human and labor rights issues. In 2003, 12 Asian migrant-origin states formed the Colombo Process to address these labor concerns. This article examines and contrasts two major emigrant-origin states’ – India and Bangladesh –behavior in the Colombo Process, a regional consultative process, and other multilateral migration governance fora, focusing on the social construction of skills. Both countries inherited a colonial legal system of emigration regulation which distinguished emigrants into “high-” and “low-skill” categories, which India continues to reproduce, while Bangladesh aims to reformulate their categorization. This article investigates the how, where, and when of the countries’ emigrant categorization processes by tracing the categories’ origins, their reproduction, and reformulation. This article highlights the significant role migrant-origin states play in the politics of skill.

The Broken Promises of Neoliberal Soccer: Illusion and Disillusion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar attracted over 3.4 million spectators and more than a million international visitors. However, the tournament required a colossal investment of 220 billion US dollars for facilities whose future use remains uncertain. It also highlighted the excesses of neoliberal soccer, dominated by financial interests. Since the World Cup was awarded in December 2010, controversies have emerged, particularly regarding the working conditions of migrant workers, which have led to several thousand deaths. There have been widespread denunciations of labor and civil rights violations, and the banning of the “One Love” armband has illustrated FIFA’s censorship. Environmental criticisms were also significant, questioning the event’s claimed carbon neutrality. Extravagant spending on stadium construction and hotel infrastructures, often seen as unnecessary luxury after the tournament, has been highlighted. Qatar has not fulfilled its promises to dismantle and repurpose the stadiums, which remain underused. The 2022 FIFA World Cup exposed the tensions between sporting values and economic realities and underscored the need for a thorough analysis of the long-term impact of mega-sporting events.

“They are not even called by name”: Security guards in a South African psychiatric hospital

BackgroundSecurity guards (SGs) play a significant role in health care and are an integral part of many psychiatric institutions. While their main duty is to ensure service users' (SUs) and staff's safety and protect the premises, they are also called upon for other tasks, often ones for which they are not adequately trained. This study aimed to explore the roles, formal and informal tasks performed, training, working conditions and well-being of SGs working in psychiatric services. MethodsGuided interviews were conducted with n = 12 SGs and n = 18 mental healthcare providers (MHCPs) at a psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape of South Africa. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. ResultsIn addition to ensuring safety, SGs take on numerous informal tasks, often for which they are not adequately trained and which formally fall under the purview of other MHCPs, mostly nurses, including talking with SUs about their mental health issues, dressing, showering, feeding, and administering medication. SGs also serve informally as interpreters, raising ethical concerns regarding accuracy and confidentiality. SGs lack formal training for working in psychiatric services and handling aggressive SUs, which may lead to increased violence instead of de-escalation and, in the worst case, injuries. SGs work under precarious working conditions (i.e. low salary, outsourced employment, absence of labour rights and job insecurity) and lack professional recognition, potentially leading to lower job satisfaction and increased emotional distress. ConclusionAddressing the challenges outlined in the study requires collaborative efforts between government, psychiatric institutions, private security companies, SGs and MHCPs. The establishment of clear roles, implementation of comprehensive formal training, psychosocial support and improved working conditions, particularly in-house employment, higher pay, increased employee rights and job security, are needed.

Tonia Novitz, Trade, Labour, and Sustainable Development: Leaving No One in the World of Work Behind Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024 - Kevin J. Middlebrook, The International Defense of Workers: Labor Rights, US Trade Agreements, and State Sovereignty Columbia University Press, 2024

Tonia Novitz, Trade, Labour, and Sustainable Development: Leaving No One in the World of Work Behind Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024 - Kevin J. Middlebrook, The International Defense of Workers: Labor Rights, US Trade Agreements, and State Sovereignty Columbia University Press, 2024