Dire working conditions are prevalent in the labor-intensive segments of global supply chains. Pronouncements by governments and corporations that claim to address the plight of workers are plentiful, but the enforcement of social and human rights is lacking. This volume explores the possibilities for better enforcement by: - providing a general overview of the currently considered enforcement instruments; - identifying governmental instruments that are yet to be employed; - assessing the effectiveness of social ...

Food prices have gone up to prohibitive levels for many of the world’s poor. The vast majority of those who are hungry in the world today are working in agriculture, either as small landholders or as waged agricultural workers. The majority of the food producers have not benefited from rising prices. Apparently, the bargaining power of many producers, just as that of the end consumers, has been weakened vis-à-vis the buyers and retailers of agricultural produce. This powerlessness is also in the face of governments ...

This book explains why it was possible for the Worker’s Party (PT) in Brazil and the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa to pursue a developmental state trade policy, in spite of neoliberal constraints. The major theoretical lenses are three-fold. It applies state theory (macrolevel), policy network analysis (meso-level) and theories on political parties with emphasis on factional politics (micro-level). This book highlights the socio-political relevance of comparatively progressive policy frameworks ...

In the drive for financial inclusion in India, cooperative banks assume prime importance as they are much more accessible to the rural poor than commercial banks. While more accessible, cooperative banks' financial health is rather poor and, therefore, might not be able to serve the needy in a sustained manner. A committee led by Prof. Vaidyanathan has outlined a revival package for cooperatives. Besides suggesting an infusion of funds, it called for the adherence to certain stringent norms to ensure the financial ...

The profound lack of social security for much of the world's population is increasingly recognised as a problem, both in policy making and in social sciences. Many new national and international policy initiatives aim at the expansion of social security and social protection in countries of the Global South. Correspondingly, academia is discussing the specific Southern nature of welfare arrangements and regimes, as well as the design of social protection systems. This book studies India as an exemplary case of social ...

In this book, Kateryna Yarmolyuk-Kröck examines the implementation and application of international law in Ukraine. In particular, the analysis is centered on the occupational safety and health (OSH) instruments of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as well as the European Union (EU) OSH directives and their conformity with national legal provisions. The book offers a thorough assessment of the ongoing legal reforms in Ukraine in the process of European integration and the legal nature of the EU-Ukraine ...

This book examines the institutional building blocks of China’s transitional wage bargaining regime taking into account the macroeconomic and political framework. Special attention is paid to the more volatile institutional setting in emerging economies. The approach enables an evaluation of the how China’s wage determination mechanism is developing. China’s economic reform process launched in 1978 had far reaching consequences on the institutional setting of its economic system. This resulted in substantial ...

Achieving self-reliance among refugees is favoured by many international organisations, though hardly achieved for refugee camps. In many cases, deprived of their human rights, located in remote areas and without access to the local labour market, encamped refugees have no other opportunity than turning to negative coping mechanisms to survive, including sex work, child labour, crime and dangerous work in the informal sector. This book concentrates on measuring self-reliance and identifying factors influencing it in ...

Occupational safety and health (OSH) is a core element of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda. Despite hazardous working conditions in agriculture, unfortunately, OSH issues in agriculture are frequently ignored. This volume’s contributions from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Nicaragua, and Pakistan as well as from various disciplines highlight - the prevalent patriarchal norms and practices which expose women to more health risks; - the lack of training and education which leave smallholders and ...

While the link between trade liberalisation and labour rights has been mostly studied at a national level, this book analyses this relation at a sectoral level. It draws on case studies of oil palm plantations and the automobile sector in Indonesia. Two main research questions guide the book: 1. How do labour- and capital-intensive sectors in Indonesia respond to competitive pressures brought about by trade liberalisation? 2. What are the implications of such responses on labour rights in the two sectors? Employing ...