By Hans Bentzien
FRANKFURT (Dow Jones) — The EU wants to ensure decent working conditions worldwide. According to a “Communication on Decent Work Worldwide” published by the EU Commission, the abolition of child labor and forced labor is at the heart of these efforts. Parliament and Council still have to agree. The EU Commission named the following key points:
1. EU policies and initiatives beyond the EU
The EU wants to set world-leading standards for corporate accountability and transparency. Examples are the proposal for a directive on corporate sustainability due diligence and the forthcoming legislative proposal on forced labour. In addition, EU guidelines and legislation on socially sustainable public procurement should help the public sector to lead by example. The sectoral measures of the EU, for example in the areas of food, minerals and textiles, are intended to strengthen compliance with international labor standards.
2. EU regional and bilateral relations
EU trade policy aims to promote international labor standards. Respect for workers’ rights in third countries is an essential part of EU human rights policy. The EU’s enlargement and neighborhood policy should also promote decent work in neighboring countries.
3. The EU in international and multilateral fora
The EU wants to help implement the UN instruments for decent work and make an active contribution to the setting of labor standards by the International Labor Organization (ILO). She also wants to ensure that the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) takes the social dimension of globalization into account. Through the G20 and G7, the EU works with other global economic powers to promote decent work.
4. EU engagement with stakeholders and in global partnerships
The EU wants to support the social partners in ensuring that labor rights are observed in the supply chains. Together with civil society actors, a safe and conducive environment for civil society is to be created. Support should be given to global partnerships and multi-stakeholder decent work initiatives, such as in the areas of safety and health at work.
The Commission calls on the European Parliament and the Council to support this approach and work together to implement it. She wants to report regularly on the implementation.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 23, 2022 09:53 ET (14:53 GMT)