Enforcing International Labour Standards in the Americas in an Era of Free Trade

Labour and social issues are inextricably linked with the integration of global economies and markets and the negotiation of trade agreements. While states and businesses have attempted to argue in the past that there is no link between trade and social rights, the growth of foreign investment and multinational enterprises, internationalization of the financial markets and deregulation and privatization of the public sector have demonstrated that these trends cannot be separated from the working and social conditions of citizens.