The role of international framework agreements in transnational labour regulation

Abstract

The regulation of labour in the workplace is never an easy task but it is even more complex and challenging if it has to take place across national borders in a globalised world. Globalisation and a transnational labour environment impact on the ability of the employer to regulate or manage a labour force that is based in different countries. The migration of workers across national borders, the existence of multinational companies and the demands of transnational labour relations present management with many challenges. This article is premised on the conviction that corporate social responsibility codes and other codes of conduct, due to their voluntary nature, are not enough to effectively manage and regulate labour in a transnational environment. The authors suggest that international framework agreements are a far more effective management tool for transnational labour regulation.