The International Dimensions of Work: Some implications for the UK

Overview

Globalisation, or the expansion of international trade and investment experienced since the early 1980s, has brought gains to some countries and groups of workers, while marginalising and excluding others. This paper argues that some of the causes of and the solutions to the UK’s recent employment problems lie at the international level. Such problems as job insecurity, erosion of workers’ rights, and growing income inequality are being experienced in many other countries, as a consequence of the process of globalisation. There is an important advocacy role for international alliances of community-based and civil organisations in reforming the international trading and investment system to ensure that all workers receive their fair share of the fruits of economic progress.