What could the World Trade Organisation do to protect the interests of workers in the third world?

Question

Any references or links to articles would be great thanks!

Answer 1

The growing popularity of Fairtrade produce could be a start. The WTO could try to promote this style of trade or maybe set some sort of quotas saying that certain percentages of good purchased must have a Fairtrade origin.

http://www.fairtradefederation.org/mft.html

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/products_wines.htm

Answer 2

Outlawing trade tariffs around the world so that everyone has free and easy access to all markets. Giving Third World producers the opportunity to trade fairly and equally is the only way Third World countries can pull themselves out of poverty and suffering. This would also require adopting a basic standard of working practices so that workers are not abused and forced into working more than their competitiors in order to flood the market with cheap goods. Such measures should include, no one works more than 50 hours a week, at least one full day off in seven, a basic minimum wage, access to light and fresh air at work etc, etc.

Answer 3

They could still encourage free trade in most areas, but announce that starting in 2 years' time & incrementally they will start to vehemently measure and punish the worst countries who have the worst record & have made no recent improvements in four main issues:
air pollution and liquid & gas emissions;
income/assets/consumption inequality between rich & poor;
military behaviour & trading in harmful items & substances;
and managements's treatment of employees

I propose that a worst five countries in the world list be drawn up (to consist of at least one & at most two each from the three blocks of countries with the top 20 GDPs; 21-100; 101-200) and revised once a year so countries have a chance to get out of trouble by committing themselves to cleaning up their act.

Answer 4

sorry....I tried to find some links for you, but "alas" I found none. Perhaps because the true answer to what you seek, no one wants to print....
So, how's this?.....
"They must stop "bullshitting they selves and everyone else"...and then see the problem from the "ground" perspective, hit the streets feel them, learn of them whom suffer and need their protection?....and stop meeting at fancy meeting centers, been paraded in Limos, and kiss up to each other and all in ballrooms, handshaking it with those governments that allow such conditions to exist in their countries (while the WTO is supporting those governments?)...had enough?...I hope so for I have.....
I think I go and sleep some for I am again dreaming of something good happening for a change.....LOL

Answer 5

What they could do is force African nations to stop selling off their best land from underneath their people's feet to major corporations for growing cash-crops. Once it can grow its own food and cash-crops it can pay off its debts and progress.
Haven't you ever wondered why such a resource rich continent is getting poorer?

Answer 6

Apply pressure to national governments to implement some kind of minimum national wage

Answer 7

the same as they're doing now..fek all