1. Assessing the impact of the trade-labour linkage: an inductive framework
Lore Van den Putte Centre for EU Studies –Department of Political Science, Ghent University
Social and labour impacts of free trade agreements - GIFTA
Brussels, 6-7 July 2016
Unravelling the legitimacy and effectiveness of the US and EU trade-labour linkage in Peru and Colombia
07/07/2016
Van den Putte GIFTA

2. Context of this presentation
PhD on the EU’s trade-labour linkage
Three main RQs
What are the defining features of the EU’s trade-labour linkage?
What is the impact of the EU’s trade labour linkage?
How can we explain the findings above?
How can we assess impact?
What is the impact of the EU’s trade-labour linkage?
How does this differ from the impact of the US’ trade-labour linkage?
07/07/2016
Van den Putte GIFTA

3. Structure Review literature impact of the trade-labour linkage
Construct an inductive framework
Apply to the EU’s and US’ trade-labour linkage
Discuss results
07/07/2016
Van den Putte GIFTA

4. 1. Review literature impact
Focus on design trade-labour linkage, less attention for impact
If so, focus on the NAALC public submission process
EU’s promotional approach a priori seen as having few impact
Difficulties in assessing impact
Time dimension
Causal link
Recent initiatives to investigate impact EU’s promotional approach (Campling et al., Ebert, Postnikov & Bastiaens)
Once these labour provisions are in the legal text of trade agreements, what are the consequences for labour?
Focus on NAALC
labour side agreement of NAFTA
logic: time dimension, tangible to investigate (CS files a complaint, then an investigation by the Department of Labour etc.)
We cannot dismiss the EU’s approach as ineffective a priori (see studies)
Focus on one specific aspect
Not yet applied empirically
 try to look at many apects of the trade-labour linkage in an empirically informed way
07/07/2016
Van den Putte GIFTA

5. 2. Inductive framework
start from empirical observations to allow all kinds of impact to come to the fore
Combination of document analysis and interviews
Perspective from NGOs, unions, academics, business organisations, workers, and officials from labour and trade ministries
5 types of impact
depending on level of intervention in respect for workers’ labour conditions
Interviews in EU, US, Peru, Colombia
07/07/2016
Van den Putte GIFTA

6. Workers’ labour conditions, f.ex. unionisation
Legal change, f.ex. ratification CLS
Institutional change, f.ex. labour inspection system
Dialogue and collaboration government – government
Dialogue and collaboration CS – government
Dialogue and collaboration CS – CS
Development projects
Awareness power structures
Change, but no impact on labour conditions
Process impact: implies a change in the dialogue and cooperation on labour issues between and among governments, CS and international organisations
07/07/2016
Van den Putte GIFTA

7. 2. Inductive framework Types of impact partly overlapping
No temporal sequence suggested
Impact both at domestic and transnational level possible
No definite assessment, but indications
07/07/2016
Van den Putte GIFTA

8. 3. Application
Focus on EU’s trade-labour linkage with Korea and Peru-Colombia
Inclusion US’ trade-labour linkage with Peru and Colombia to put EU in perspective
No systematic comparison
07/07/2016
Van den Putte GIFTA

9. no pre-ratification cond. +EU US
Outcome ?
Legal -
no pre-ratification cond. +
Institutional
+ regular dialogue mechanisms
+/-
dialogue mechanisms, but irregular
Agenda-setting
- yet enables discussions
formal and informal meetings
Social dialogue
Korea
US domestically + US-Peru
CS collaboration
domestically and EU-Korea
Peru public submissions
Aid
few development cooperation
targeted projects
Empowerment
some initiatives Peru, EU
quite strong in Peru
Side
+ Road Maps on labour Peru, Colombia
+ legal improvements + Labour Action Plan
07/07/2016
Van den Putte GIFTA

10. 4. Discussion results
EU impact mostly in setting up forums for dialogue
US impact broader, strong impact from public submissions
Explanations EU
promotional approach as such?
labour as part of sustainable development
lack institutional ownership
strong legitimacy US
conditional approach
strong ownership Department of Labour and institutional experience
weak legitimacy
07/07/2016
Van den Putte GIFTA

11. Thank you for your attention!
07/07/2016
Van den Putte GIFTA