International Framework Agreements

Abstract

When the negative outcome of globalization in the 1990s was becoming more visible and transnational companies were heavily criticized, the first global union federations started to negotiate transnational agreements with transnational companies to counter unilateral codes of conduct which had been proclaimed at that time. Today there are more than 140 international framework agreements (‘IFAs’) with the aim of ensuring social standards are at place, some dedicated to specific topics. These agreements developed and now often contain specific provisions on implementation and monitoring, sometimes including complaint and dispute resolution mechanisms. Some of these IFAs provide local trade unions with specific rights like access to the premises or neutrality in case of unionizing campaigns. Thriving examples are the Indonesian Freedom of Association Protocol and the Bangladesh Accord, which contain detailed provisions, as will be analyzed below. This development may be described as the beginning of transnational collective bargaining.