ILS - DOLE

(Author Adeline T. De Castro is Supervising LEO of ILS; Introduction of the Paper is provided below; For the Full Text click the link below)

“Our vision is of a process of globalization which puts people first; which respects human dignity and the equal worth of every human being”
 -World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization (2004)                                   

I. INTRODUCTION

In the world of work, addressing the social dimension of globalization remains a challenge that countries need to work on together. Across the globe, dialogues among stakeholders have repeatedly called for better governance and dialogue processes as evidences amass on the unbalanced outcomes that globalization continue to generate - widespread sense of  instability and insecurity, threat on culture and identity, and, adverse impact on jobs and incomes (World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, 2004). Attention is focused on preventing a race to the bottom situation – where competition and survival result to downward pressures on labor standards that protect the rights and working condition of workers. As economic integration at the regional level accelerates, managing the social impact of such integration to balance the economic benefits vis-à-vis the aspirations of women and men for decent work and better quality of life – remains an imperative task for country members of regional bloc.

The European Union (EU), a model in regional integration, addressed this concern by adopting a rights-based framework - the Charter of Fundamental Social Rights, more commonly known as the Social Charter to ensure that the social dimension in establishing a single market would not be neglected. The Social Charter underpins EU’s principle that fundamental social rights should not be jeopardized because of pressure of competition or the search for increased competitiveness, and must be taken as the basis for dialogue between management and labor (EU Resolution, 1989). 

ASEAN_SOCOM.pdf