UNCTAD RELEASES NEW STUDY AS PART OF SERIES ON ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS
Press Release
TAD/1921
UNCTAD RELEASES NEW STUDY AS PART OF SERIES ON ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS
20000719(Delayed in transmission.)
GENEVA, 14 July (UNCTAD) -- As part of its series on issues in international investment agreements (IIAs), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has issued a paper on the topic of employment. It indicates that employment and labour issues are relatively uncommon in IIAs. It was not until the 1970s that they appeared on the agenda of such agreements, predominantly on the regional or multilateral levels. The paper illustrates that the International Labour Organization (ILO) Tripartite Declaration and the Organization for Economic and Coooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines employment chapter have formed what is the most comprehensive statement to date on issues concerning employment in relation to transnational corporations. However, a number of IIAs do deal with some of these issues now, either through a cross reference to such other international instruments or by adopting a no lowering of standards clause. The paper identifies the main issues covered by international instruments in this area to include general employment issues (such as employment promotion, equality of opportunity and treatment, and security of employment), human resource development, conditions of work and life, and industrial relations practices.
Employment promotion is a major goal pursued by governments, and transnational corporations have an employment-generating potential that can be harnessed. At the same time, IIAs can be used to call upon transnational corporations to promote equality of opportunity and, therefore, to base their employment policies on qualifications and skills. They can also be encouraged to invest in human resource development, especially in developing countries, so as to upgrade the human-capital base. In the area of industrial relations practices, the paper illustrates how such related issues as the right of association, collective bargaining and consultation can be dealt with in an IIA. Finally, the paper examines certain emerging issues, including expanding transnational corporations-specific IIA provisions to cover all core labour standards and efforts in order to ensure observance of such provisions through a social clause.
The UNCTADs paper series on issues in IIAs is addressed to government officials, corporate executives, representatives of non-governmental organizations, officials of international agencies and researchers. It seeks to provide balanced analysis of issues that may arise in discussions about IIAs.
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The series is supplemented by UNCTADs International Investment Instruments: A Compendium. The UNCTAD has also just released volumes IV and V of the Compendium. This is now the most comprehensive collection of international instruments relating to investment. Together with volumes I, II and III, the Compendium provides a collection of 143 instruments, comprising the most important multilateral and regional instruments dealing with various aspects of foreign direct investment, as well as a selection of model bilateral investment treaties.
For further information, please contact John Gara, Investment Policies and Capacity-building Branch, Division on Investment, Technology and Enterprise Development, UNCTAD; telephone +41 22 907 5751; fax +41 22 907 0194; or e-mail: ; or UNCTAD Press Unit; telephone +41 22 907 5816; fax: +41 22 907 0043; or e-mail: .
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