| Abstract: | There is a protracted stalemate between rich (the North) andpoor (the South) countries over the question of minimum labourstandards in developing economies. This paper is a sequel toSingh and Zammit (2000). It considers afresh key issues in thecontroversy. While fully recognizing the moral, political, andphilosophical dimensions of this complex issue, the paper concentrateson the central economic question of the ‘race to the bottom’.It emphasizes the difficulties of establishing labour standardsin the vast informal sectors in developing countries and suggeststhat the ILO conventions 87 and 98 should be amended to reflectproperly these concerns. It also argues that ILO core conventionsshould be broadened to include the right to a decent living.The overall conclusion is that labour standards are importantindicators of economic development, but their promotion is bestachieved in a non-coercive and supportive international environmentsuch as that provided by the ILO. |
