Making labour provisions in free trade agreements work
Policy recommendations• With sustained and vigorous efforts from trade unions, labour provisionsin trade agreements have been of some help to labour movements insome partner countries, but they could do much more if the lessonsfrom recent examples are truly learned.• Labour provisions should relate to the immediate needs of workers ina partner country and go beyond the fundamental conventions of theInternational Labour Organisation (ILO).• There should be provision for rapid sanctions, as these do work. Whilemoral condemnation can strengthen trade unions in a partner country,provision for commercial sanctions is proving much more effective