B etter Together, Eighty Years and More for Peace, Development and Human Rights

The Global Labor Law Perspective

From an academic standpoint, global labor law may be regarded as an effort to harmonize minimum standards of worker protection worldwide. This framework rests on three essential pillars:

1. Ratification and Implementation of ILO Conventions. Member States are expected not only to ratify core conventions but also to implement them consistently within their domestic legal systems. The greatest challenge often lies not in ratification but in weak enforcement mechanisms.
2. The Role of Multinational Corporations. In the age of globalization, global supply chains reveal disparities in labor protections across nations. Workers in developing countries are frequently subjected to exploitative conditions in order to meet the demands of major corporations in developed countries. Transnational corporate accountability is therefore a critical issue in global labor law.
3. International Monitoring Mechanisms. The supervisory role of the ILO and the UN Human Rights Council in monitoring compliance with international standards must be reinforced. These mechanisms serve as both moral and political instruments to compel States and corporations to respect workers' rights.

Contemporary Challenges

Despite notable progress, significant challenges persist in the protection of workers' rights. Exploitation, forced labor, child labor, and gender inequality in the workplace remain widespread. Migrant workers often find themselves in conditions devoid of legal protection, demanding urgent global attention.

Simultaneously, the digital revolution and automation pose new threats, such as the loss of traditional jobs, while the new skills required are not always accessible to all segments of the workforce.

Conclusion

The theme of the 80th UNGA reaffirms that global solidarity is key to addressing labor-related challenges worldwide. Workers' rights must be placed at the heart of efforts to achieve peace, sustainable development, and respect for human rights.

From the perspective of global labor law, this entails strengthening the implementation of international conventions, demanding accountability from multinational corporations, and expanding protection for vulnerable groups of workers.

With the spirit of "Better Together," the world is expected to ensure that workers everywhere enjoy decent, dignified, and legally protected employment. This approach is indispensable to realizing fair, inclusive, and sustainable global development.