This paper analyzes how the unlikely event of an International Framework Agreement between Chiquita and Latin American banana unions came about in 2001. It provides background on IFAs, discusses the terms of the Chiquita-COLSIBA IFA, and analyzes the negotiating positions of the corporate and...

The past few decades have witnessed the growth of an exciting debate in the legal academy about the tensions between economic pressures to commodify and philosophical commitments to the market inalienability of certain items. Sex, organs, babies and college athletics are among the many topics...

The ‘business and human rights’ (BHR) field emerged amidst concerns during the last thirty years over the adequacy of national legal systems and institutions in addressing transnational human rights impacts of global market integration. BHR relies on transnational governance networks and...

This article discusses the problem of the meaning of the term ‘worker' as used in ILO Standards, with particular reference to the principles of freedom of association, both in terms of the constitutional obligation to respect those principles, and of the core freedom of association...

This article examines the June 2010 report of the International Labour Organisation Governing Body’s Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) made in response to a complaint by the Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of...

Many would wonder what labour law has to do with climate change and/or environmental law. It is not immediately apparent what connection there is between the two areas. However there has been recognition internationally, in particular by the United Nations that there is an overlap between labour...

This paper examines theoretically and empirically the role of political risk guarantees, which bilateral investment treaties serve, in debt accumulation in low and middle income countries. The paper empirically finds that signed bilateral investment treaties with OECD countries have a positive...

The absence of articulations of public goods (beyond investment protection) in most international investment treaties has led to calls for these treaties to be interpreted by reference to other areas of international law, such as international human rights law. Relying upon Article 31(3)(c) of...

Over the past few decades, a few thousand international investment agreements have been concluded. One cornerstone of those treaties has been a straightforward model of foreign investment: an investor based in a home State that has made an investment located in the territory of a host State....

This article traces the origins of Farmers’ Rights through their negotiation in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Plant Treaty) and their early practice. This analysis is an attempt to understand the legal objects of Farmers’ Rights and the scope...