BORROWING THE BEST OF BITS: ENHANCING BILATERAL LABOR AGREEMENTS
47 Pages Posted: 30 Oct 2020 Last revised: 24 May 2021
Date Written: August 1, 2020
Abstract
This Article compares the bourgeoning trend of bilateral labor agreements (BLAs) with the more established practice of bilateral investment treaties (BITs). Foreign direct investment and labor migration are both aspects of the globalized economy. Exceptionally, both have been regulated bilaterally and not multilaterally. The Article compares the evolutionary stories of BITs and BLAs and explores what lessons could be learned from the former to the latter. Whereas migrant workers have historically received weak protections under BLAs, investors have been granted favorable conditions in BITs. The Article argues that BLAs may better protect migrant workers, among others, by learning from BITs.
Keywords: International Economic Law, International Investment Law, International Labor Law, Bilateralism, Multilateralism
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