Trade

Trade is increasingly international, beyond the control of individual governments. Many companies operate out of different countries, meaning that capital and production moves around the world, often looking for the cheapest environments where controls are loosest. For many workers around the world this has meant lower labour standards and a decline in their rights at work.

Co-operation and solidarity between trade unionists, unions, national centres (such as the TUC) and international trade union organisations play an increasingly crucial role in safeguarding workers' rights. The TUC works with a large number of international trade union organisations [link to section on this site] to campaign for a trade system with a social element – not tacked on to the end, but at its heart.


The most recent documents available on this subject are:

Tell Debenhams and GAP to back Bangladesh safety plan

Over 30 major retailers have signed a significant new union-backed safety accord for Bangladeshi textile workers. However Debenhams and GAP are still holding back from signing. Please help us ask them to change their mind.

20 May 2013
South Korea needs to end labour rights abuses

The TUC is joining unions from across the globe in calling on South Korean President-elect Park Geun-hye to address a range of serious and ongoing labour rights concerns when she takes office on 25 February 2013.

22 February 2013
TUC evidence to BIS on the EU internal market

The TUC's response to the BIS call for evidence on the EU internal market, part of the wider Government Review of the Balance of Competences between the EU and the UK. The TUC makes the case that the single market is not possible or acceptable withou...

PDF version available for download
15 February 2013
International Development Matters Issue 116 December 2012

IDM - Monthly newsletter reporting international development matters and issues affecting trade unionists around the world. Including reports, statements, interviews and events.

PDF version available for download
30 November 2012
Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

The recently adopted UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights represent a strong international consensus on how to tackle the global rise in business-related human rights abuses. To help bring them to life, the TUC has developed a set of re...

24 October 2012
A decent job? DFID fails the TUC's Decent Work test

To mark the World Day for Decent Work, the TUC is releasing 'A decent job?': a report assessing the Department for International Development's (DFID) efforts to secure decent jobs for the world's poor. DFID scores just 25 out of 56 points based on cr...

7 October 2012



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