Mainstreaming Sustainable Development into International Investment Agreements : What Role for Labor Provisions?

The chapter explores the different forms in which references to international labor standards appear in International Investment Agreements (IIAs), and provides an analytical framework to evaluate their intended purpose and potential effects. After discussing the role of international labor standards, as well as the role of foreign direct investment in fostering sustainable development, the chapter presents a detailed analysis of the different types of labor provisions that are presently found in IIAs. It then evaluates the evolution in treaty language in relation to labor provisions and the prospects of such language for mainstreaming sustainable development into IIAs