The global labour standards controversy

de Ajit Singh

Addresses the argument that trade with developing countries is the main source of the troubles afflicting large numbers of workers in the North and that low wages in developing countries give those countries an unfair competitive edge over business in the North. Does not argue against striving to achieve core or other labour standards in developing countries, but rather it aims to show that making labour standards compulsory is a deeply flawed way to achieve this goal. Attempts to clarify the analytical, empirical, and policy issues involved in the international debate on this subject and goes on to outline a constructive way forward, which would help improve labour standards both in the North and the South. This involves the promotion of a new route to global economic integration which is more helpful for labour, both in developing and advanced countries, than are the current globalization processes.