WTO, labor standards, and developing countries

Max Sawicky sawicky at epinet.org
Mon Dec 6 19:17:43 PST 1999


How do we reconcile the needs -- and maintain the rebellious enthusiasm -- of both 1st World *and* 3rd world workers?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The 1st world can offer debt relief, development aid, technology transfer, concessions on intellectual property and licensing (drugs, agricultural products), and keynesian stimulus. Also end the practice of blackmail by the debtors cartel, centered in the IMF, with its gratuitous corollary demands in such areas as privatization.

In return, the 3rd world can establish labor and environmental standards that will slow down the export of manufacturing jobs from high-wage areas.

By contrast, unfettered neo-liberalism means wanton environmental destruction, massive dislocation of peasants into urban shitholes, creation of subsistence wage zones that export into the U.S. and destroy higher-paying jobs here, and new 'hot-money' disruptions that create more Indonesia's.

Looks like a no-brainer to me.

mbs



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