4th WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar
4th WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar (9th - 14th November 2001)
ICFTU Public Conference in Qatar with Pascal Lamy, European Trade Commissioner
In the run-up to the 4th WTO Ministerial Conference, a number of governments, including the UK government, made much of the need to launch a new trade round which they argued should be a ‘development’ round.
While the Doha Ministerial Conference appears to have yielded some progress on development issues, most notably with regard to access to vital medicines such as HIV/AIDS drugs, it can hardly be said that a development round has been launched. A vital element that is necessary for poverty elimination and development is still missing.
Once again, core labour standards,* which are the fundamental human rights of workers, have not been adequately addressed by WTO members.
These rights enable workers to redress the imbalance of power in employment relations through organisation and collective action, and help prevent their exploitation. As such they play an important role in encouraging more equitable wealth distribution and are central to poverty elimination.
This was why at Doha, trade union representatives urged the WTO to commit itself to close co-operation with the ILO to ensure that trade rules and policies promote, rather than continue to undermine labour standards. Unfortunately, some WTO members were not prepared to do this and actively blocked the proposal.
Nevertheless, we welcome the fact that progress was made in Doha on other issues of concern.
Agreement that the TRIPS Agreement, which governs intellectual property rights, should be interpreted and implemented in a manner that supports the right of governments to protect public health, and in particular to promote access to medicines is encouraging.
The agreement of a waiver for the Cotonou Agreement, an aid and trade pact between 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states and the European Union, exempting it from legal challenge under WTO rules is also good news.
In addition, we welcome other positive moves in relation to development and the environment, particularly the agreement to initiate negotiations to clarify the relationship between Multilateral Environmental Agreements** and WTO rules with a view to enhancing the mutual supportiveness of trade and environmental protection.
China joining the WTO on 10th November was also a significant event. It will have wide-ranging effects on workers both within and outside that country.
Chinese workers stand to face large-scale unemployment as a result of its entry to the WTO. In the agriculture sector alone, it is forecast that ten million Chinese workers will lose their jobs as a result of the conditions for membership. The lack of free trade unions in China means that workers will be left with little protection. World Bank studies indicate that China will acquire many of the export markets currently taken by countries like India, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. China’s low production costs are closely linked to the lack of observance of fundamental workers rights in that country.
Pascal Lamy, the European Trade Commissioner has used the term ‘Doha Development Agenda’ to refer to the outcome of the WTO Ministerial Conference. Other leading figures have also used it. For this to ring true, the positive language on development agreed in Doha must actually translate into positive action and gains for people living in the developing world.
The fundamental human rights of workers also need be protected and not violated in the name of trade. As a first step, the WTO must make a commitment to collaborating with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on its work programme on the social dimensions of globalisation.
Notes:
*The core labour standards are:
- freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
- the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour;
- the effective abolition of child labour;
- and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
** Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) are agreements between countries which focus on major global environmental problems. Examples of MEAs are the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, the Biodiversity Convention and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Links:
http://www.ituc-csi.org/?displaydocument.asp?Language=EN&Index=991214363
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