Mainstreaming Sustainable Development into International Investment Agreements: What Role for Labor Provisions?
Forthcoming in Rainer Hofmann, Christian Tams and Stephan Schill (eds.), International Investment Law and Development (Edward Elgar, 2014).
Grotius Centre Working Paper 2014/023-IEL
22 Pages Posted: 11 Jun 2014
Date Written: June 10, 2014
Abstract
The chapter explores the different forms in which references to international labor standards appear in International Investment Agreements (IIAs), and provides an analytical framework to evaluate their intended purpose and potential effects. After discussing the role of international labor standards, as well as the role of foreign direct investment in fostering sustainable development, the chapter presents a detailed analysis of the different types of labor provisions that are presently found in IIAs. It then evaluates the evolution in treaty language in relation to labor provisions and the prospects of such language for mainstreaming sustainable development into IIAs.
Keywords: International Investment Agreements, international labor standards, sustainable development
JEL Classification: K33, K31
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation