The United States is one of the few countries to have a labor provision in its Model BIT. The 2012 Model includes a more elaborate labor provision than its predecessor. The scope of applicable labor standards and the level of commitment are more demanding than in the 2004 Model and most other...

This paper argues that GSP labour rights conditionality is in conformity with WTO law. This hinges on the critical question of whether the realisation of labour standards can meet a ‘development need,' a term considered by the WTO Appellate Body report in the EC – Tariffs Preferences case,...

The purpose of the article is to examine the substantive labor standards that are found in various international investment agreements (IIAs), and assess their potential impact on investment law and investment arbitration in general. Part A positions labor rights within the concept of...

In late 2008, as financial markets were crashing, the Vale Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment launched the Columbia FDI Perspectives. The first Perspective, entitled “The FDI recession has begun,” correctly forecast an FDI recession in the following year. From that first...

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...

In the paper we look at the relationship between international labour law and corporate social responsibility. This relationship is often perceived as binary. One can either support legal obligations, which can be copy-pasted from existing international agreements and subjected to judicial...

Introduction -- Economic competition and the development of International Labour Law -- Multilateral Trade Law and labour -- International investment law and labour -- Preferential trade and investment agreements and labour -- Conclusions.