The COVID-19 pandemic has caused various disruptions in the production chains of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs). Among other disruptions there is a drop of product sales, often due to lock-down... Show moreThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused various disruptions in the production chains of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs). Among other disruptions there is a drop of product sales, often due to lock-down measures, which resulted in last-minute order cancellations , non-payment of the already purchased resources and already made products, and hence terminations of employment contracts. International organisations and non-governmental organisations have called upon MNEs to take their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and honour the contracts. The aim of this article is to analyse to what extend this moral appeal is also a (quasi-)legal appeal following from international norms on CSR. After an assessment of the main labour law problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, an analysis follows on each of the identified problems. The conclusion of the analysis is that MNEs indeed are not only morally obliged to take their responsibility, but also based on the (quasi-)legal international CSR norms. Show less
Are states allowed to prohibit the importation of products made by children? Can foreign investors claim compensation when their host state raises the minimum wage? And could trade and... Show moreAre states allowed to prohibit the importation of products made by children? Can foreign investors claim compensation when their host state raises the minimum wage? And could trade and investment agreements be used to foster decent work, instead of being mere vehicles for economic liberalization? These questions are at the heart of the debate about the interactions between the international legal regimes for trade, investment and labour. This dissertation examines the ways in which international trade and investment law enables and constrains the ability of states to regulate labour. It looks at the effects on domestic labour law, the legality of trade measures responding to ‘unfair’ conditions in exporting countries, and the challenge of fragmentation between the legal framework of the ILO and labour clauses in trade and investment agreements. In addition to analyzing the interactions between the relevant norms, it explains how linkages between international economic law and labour navigate between two notions: fair competition and fundamental rights. This study is agnostic about which of these objectives ought to shape international law, thus allowing a critical examination of the relevant rules of public international law, as well as legal and economic scholarschip. Show less
