Workers and TNCs : reshaping international law for the protection of workers

Abstract

This thesis examines the current state of international labour law, and places it in the context of international development. It looks at issues within development, namely capital mobility, globalization and the race to the bottom, the lack of international labour laws under the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the power of transnational corporations. It then looks at the current system the ILO has in place to protect workers, then highlights at one of its member states to see how this system works on the ground. Lastly it looks at one specific case in Colombia; bottling factory unionists v. Coca Cola. All the issues and the data presented in the thesis paint a picture for development; that was is happening seriously impedes development for countries in the Global South, and that the current system that exists does not protect workers. This thesis seeks to answer the question: what are the barriers workers face when attempting to access legal remedies at an international level? It ultimately argues that there are significant barriers that workers must overcome if they choose to seek legal action against their transnational employer when their workplace protections have been violated.