Monday, June 30, 2008

[IWS] CRS: INTERNATIONAL TRADE: RULES OF ORIGIN [10 June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Order Code RL34524

International Trade: Rules of Origin
June 10, 2008
Vivian C. Jones, Specialist in International Trade and Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Michael F. Martin, Analyst in Asian Trade and Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34524_20080610.pdf
[full-text, 21 pages]

Summary
Determining the country of origin of a product is important for properly
assessing tariffs, enforcing trade remedies (such as antidumping and countervailing
duties) or quantitative restrictions (tariff quotas), and statistical purposes. Other
commercial trade policies are also linked with origin determinations, such as country
of origin labeling and government procurement regulations.

Rules of origin (ROO), used to determine the country of origin of merchandise
entering the U.S. market, can be very simple, noncontroversial tools of international
trade as long as all of the parts of a product are manufactured and assembled
primarily in one country. However, when a finished product's component parts
originate in many countries, as is often the case in today's global trading
environment, determining origin can be a very complex, sometimes subjective, and
time-consuming process.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the agency responsible for
determining country of origin using various ROO schemes. Non-preferential rules
of origin are used to determine the origin of goods imported from countries with
which the United States has most-favored-nation (MFN) status. They are the
principal regulatory tools for accurate assessment of tariffs on imports, addressing
country of origin labeling issues, qualifying goods for government procurement, and
enforcing trade remedy actions and trade sanctions.

Preferential rules are used to determine the eligibility of imported goods from
certain U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) partners and certain developing country
beneficiaries to receive duty-free or reduced tariff benefits under bilateral or regional
FTAs, trade preference programs (such as the Generalized System of Preferences),
and other special import programs. Preferential rules of origin are specific to each
FTA, which means that they vary from agreement to agreement and preference to
preference.

This report deals with ROO in three parts. First, we describe in more detail the
reasons that country of origin rules are important and briefly describe U.S. laws and
methods that provide direction in making these determinations. Second, we discuss
briefly some of the more controversial issues involving rules of origin, including the
apparently subjective nature of some CBP origin determinations, and the effects of
the global manufacturing process on ROO. Third, we conclude with some
alternatives and options that Congress could consider that might assist in simplifying
the process.

This report will be updated as events warrant.

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Rules of Origin in U.S. Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Non-Preferential Rules of Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
International Agreements on ROO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Preferential Rules of Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Pros and Cons of U.S. Rules of Origin Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Proliferation of Preferential ROO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Concerns about Inefficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Influence of Domestic Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
CBP Country of Origin Determinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Proposed Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Subsequent Hearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Global Manufacturing and Rules of Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
The Case of the Apple iPod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Effects on Rules of Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Counter to U.S. Policy Objectives? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Quotas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Trade Embargoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
"Yarn Forward" Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Food Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
"Buy American" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Conclusion and Options for Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] BLS: LABOR UNDERUTILIZATION--ALTERNATIVE MEASURES [30 June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Issues in Labor Statistics
Summary 08-06/ June 2008

The Unemployment Rate and Beyond: Alternative Measures of Labor Underutilization [30 June 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ils/pdf/opbils67.pdf
[full-text,2 pages]

[excerpt]
While the official unemployment rate remains the primary measure of changes in labor underutilization, the alternative measures discussed in this paper provide different views of the extent to which the economy is not fully utilizing its labor resources.

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] CECC: CHINA'S FUTURE LEGAL DEVELOPMENT--What will drive it? [18 June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Congressional-Executive Commission on China

----------
What Will Drive China's Future Legal Development? Reports from the Field
http://www.cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/index.php

Wednesday, June 18 from 10:30 PM to 12 PM in Room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office Building

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China held a hearing entitled "What Will Drive China's Future Legal Development? Reports from the Field" on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, from 10:30 to 12 PM in Room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Chairman Sander Levin and Co-Chairman Byron L. Dorgan presided.


Statements of Members
U.S. House of Representatives
Representative Sander M. Levin - Chairman (2001)*
   * < http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/Levin.php>
   * Representative Michael M. Honda (2005)
   * Representative Christopher H. Smith (2007)
Representative Joseph
   * < http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/Pitts.php>
R. Pitts (2001)
< http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/Pitts.php>

U.S. Senate
Senator Byron L. Dorgan - Co-Chairman (2001)
   * < http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/Dorgan.php>
* Year of Appointment to the Commission.

Statements of Witnesses

Han Dongfang
< http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/han.php>
Executive Director
China Labour Bulletin

Xiao Qiang
< http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/xiao.php>
Director
China Internet Project University of California-Berkeley

Wang Tiancheng
< http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/wang.php>
Beijing scholar and Founder
Liberal and Democratic Party of China and the Free Labour Union of China

Bob Fu
< http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/fu.php>
Director
China Aid Association

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] AARP: WASHINGTON STATE'S EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS --SURVEY [June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

AARP Policy & Research


Condition Critical: A Survey of Washington Businesses about the Future of Employee Health Care Benefits
Research Report
Jennifer H. Sauer, M.A., AARP Knowledge Management
June 2008
http://www.aarp.org/research/work/benefits/wa_benefits_07.html
or
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/health/wa_benefits_07.pdf
[full-text, 29 pages]


An AARP telephone survey of employers in Washington State in March and April 2008 indicates that Washington employers have experienced substantial increases in employee health insurance premiums over the past 3 years, and most of the respondents anticipate that it will be challenging to provide such coverage over the next 3 years.

The survey findings indicate that:

   * The cost of single-coverage employee health insurance has increased overall in the past 3 years by about 32 percent, and among smaller companies, the cost has nearly doubled.

   * If current cost trends continue, most Washington employers are likely to maintain an employee health insurance plan but will consider passing the cost burden on to employees, particularly through higher premiums.

   * The employers indicated a limit of what they can afford before dropping employee health coverage altogether­27 percent of the respondents said they would stop providing it if the cost increased by 15 percent; 40 percent would stop if the costs increased by 25 percent.

   * Many respondents indicated that the rising cost of employee health coverage has reduced profits and raised consumer prices; however, many also view the health benefit as having a major positive impact on factors such as employee recruitment and retention, employee health, and the overall success of their business.

   * Among employers who currently do not offer employee health coverage, one-third have done so in the past. Nearly half offered a plan up until just 3 years ago. At least half of these employers said their major reasons for no health plan include the company cannot afford it, their revenues are uncertain, and employees cannot afford it.

AARP commissioned Woelfel Research, Inc., to conduct the interviews with businesses drawn at random from the population of Washington State businesses. Government offices were excluded. A total of 407 businesses participated. For more information, contact Jennifer H. Sauer at 202-434-6207. (25 pages)
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] AARP: REASSESSING the AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT [June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

AARP Policy & Research


Reassessing the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
Research Report
David Neumark, Department of Economics, University of California at Irvine
June 2008
http://www.aarp.org/research/work/agediscrim/2008_09_adea.html
or
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/2008_09_adea.pdf
[full-text, 55 pages]

This AARP Public Policy Institute report by David Neumark of the University of California at Irvine reviews the existing research on age discrimination in employment and assesses how successful the ADEA has been in achieving its goals, along with how well it might support the continued employment of older adults in the future. Given that ADEA enforcement has tended to focus on terminations, which typically arise in cases of layoffs or "reductions-in-force," the ADEA's impact in recent years has been more on the continued employment of those under age 65. If age discrimination plays any role in suppressing the employment of those older than age 65, then figuring out how the ADEA can contribute to rooting out discrimination against these older individuals becomes of prime policy importance.


In Brief: How Is the Age Discrimination in Employment Act Working? A Look Back and Into the Future
Research Report
June 2008
http://www.aarp.org/research/work/agediscrim/inb159_adea.html
or
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/inb159_adea.pdf
[full-text, 2 pages]

This In Brief summarizes Reassessing the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, written for the AARP Public Policy Institute by David Neumark of the University of California at Irvine. The paper examines how effective the ADEA has been and the challenges that lie ahead for older adults who want or need to work.

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] AARP International: AGING EVERYWHERE [DATABASE]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

AARP International

Aging Everywhere [DATABASE]
http://www.aarpinternational.org/
[scroll to bottom of page]
or
http://www.aarpinternational.org/map/

Aging Everywhere: AARP International's resource featuring quick facts, research, and events around the world.

The Aging Everywhere interactive world map serves as a "one-stop" international clearing house of the most relevant and timely information on aging populations worldwide. This site is updated regularly with newly published regional and country specific research, reports, and resources. We intend for it to serve as a useful tool for policymakers, researchers, students, media, and all others interested in the issues of global aging.

The database provides for

Comparative Data Search
< http://www.aarpinternational.org/map_search/>

Country Profiles
< http://www.aarpinternational.org/map_country/>

Worldwide Resources
< http://www.aarpinternational.org/map_world/map_world_show.htm?doc_id=531132 >


See also WHAT'S NEW IN GLOBAL AGING on this page.
http://www.aarpinternational.org/map/

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


Friday, June 27, 2008

[IWS] OECD HEALTH DATA 2008 [26 June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

OECD HEALTH DATA 2008 [26 June 2008]
http://www.oecd.org/document/30/0,3343,en_2649_37407_12968734_1_1_1_37407,00.html
or
www.oecd.org/health/healthdata

OECD Health Data 2008 includes new tool to analyse health expenditure

The online edition of OECD Health Data 2008 includes, for the first time, the main tables derived from the joint OECD, Eurostat and WHO data collection of Health Accounts, allowing more detailed analyses of health expenditure by types of services and goods, by health care providers and by financing sources.

OECD Health Data is the most comprehensive source of comparable statistics on health and health systems across the 30 OECD countries. It can be used for comparative analyses of:
   * Health status
   * Non-medical determinants of health (including smoking and obesity)
   * Health care resources and utilisation
   * Long-term care resources and utilisation
   * Expenditure and financing of health care
   * Social protection (including public and private health insurance coverage)
   * Pharmaceutical consumption.

OECD Health Data 2008 is available online to subscribers via SourceOECD,


List of Tables and Charts (sample)
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/9/40902483.xls

Press Release
Growth in health spending slows in many OECD countries, according to OECD Health Data 2008
http://www.oecd.org/document/27/0,3343,en_2649_34487_40902299_1_1_1_1,00.html

26/06/2008 - A combination of slower growth in spending on healthcare and expanding economies has led to a stabilisation of health spending as a proportion of GDP in many OECD countries, according to OECD Health Data 2008.

In 2006, the latest year for which comparable data are available, health spending on average across OECD countries grew in real terms by just over 3%, the lowest rate since 1997.  Looking at the trend during this decade, health expenditure grew rapidly in many countries between 2000 and 2003, with an annual average growth rate of 6.2% over that period.  Since 2003, the rise in health expenditure has slowed, however, to an average of 3.6% per year.

The health expenditure share of GDP on average across OECD countries remained unchanged in 2006 compared with 2005, at 8.9%.  In several countries, the percentage of GDP devoted to health actually fell slightly between 2005 and 2006, while in others it stabilised. Overall, this marked a pause in a long-term rising trend that has seen health spending rise from 6.6% of GDP on average in OECD countries in 1980.

AND MUCH MORE....
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] World Bank: New! WORLD TRADE INDICATORS 2008 [17 June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

World Bank

World Trade Indicators 2008 [17 June 2008]
http://www.worldbank.org/wti2008

Welcome to the World Trade Indicators (WTI), an interactive tool designed to benchmark a country's trade policy and institutions and help policy makers, advisors, and analysts' identify the main border and behind-the border constraints to trade integration.

The WTI 2008 database is organized in five thematic categories, namely Trade Policy, External Environment, Institutional Environment, Trade Facilitation and Trade Outcome. Each category contains a main indicator and other reference indicators. Countries' trade performance can be examined individually as well as in relation to other < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/docs/Countrylist.htm> countries or country groupings, including by < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/docs/tradingpartners.doc > membership of < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/docs/tradeagreements.doc> trade agreements. To capture the key insights from both the indicators and country-level trade-related analytical work, < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/docs/Brieftaags.htm>Country Briefs and Trade at-a-Glance (TAAG) tables are also are provided.

An < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/docs/mainpaper.pdf> overview report summarizes global patterns in trade policy and trade outcomes revealed by the database focusing mainly on regional and income level variations. The < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/docs/userguide.pdf> User Guide provides descriptions for the < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/docs/Indicators.htm> 299 indicators in the database, including < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/docs/Weblinks.htm> data sources.

The following five tabs are available to explore the database with a choice to view indicators either by value or by rank.  < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/docs/categories.doc> Click here for more details >>

   * The < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/1a.asp> Country Ranking tab displays a ranked list of countries for any one time period, for five indicators. Users can choose (up to five) alternative indicators in one or all categories, a sub-set of countries, and any time period.
   * The < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/2a1.asp> Country Snapshot tab displays a table of indicators for four time periods for a specific country and two comparators, one of which is the region to which the country belongs. Users can select any number of indicators, four time periods, and the second comparator country or country group.
   * In the < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/3a.asp> Country Comparison tab charts and tables are displayed for up to five indicators for one time period and for up to ten countries or country groups, including up to two user-defined country groups.
   * In the < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/4a.asp> Overtime Comparison tab a user can view, in chart and table format, the evolution of one indicator for up to ten countries or country groups, including up to two user defined country groups, and some pre-determined comparator countries.
   * The < http://info.worldbank.org/etools/wti2008/5a.asp> Map tab provides a color-coded world map showing relative country performance for one indicator and for one time period, both selected by the user.


Press Release No:2008/377/WBI
World Bank's new Trade Indicators shows falling trade barriers and strong trade performance
World Trade Indicators 2008 compares results in 210 countries and customs territories
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:21807483~pagePK:64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html


Washington, June 17, 2008 ­ A new database and ranking tool unveiled today by the World Bank shows that in 2007 most developing countries continued to improve trade policies supporting greater integration. Data in the World Trade Indicators 2008 ­ Benchmarking Policy and Performance, produced by the World Bank Institute, also show that, over the past decade, countries with lower barriers tended to have stronger, more consistent trade and export performance.

"This database allows us to rank countries' progress in liberalizing their tariff regimes, as well as the extent to which countries' broader policy and institutional environment supports export growth" said Roumeen Islam, the World Bank Institute Manager who led the team that developed the World Trade Indicators. "The ranking shows that those countries that have reduced their trade barriers, and are doing well on trade facilitation and institutions, have also experienced sustained increases in their volume of trade. These improvements are possible despite poor endowments."

While high-income countries still have the world's lowest tariff barriers, many developing countries are converging rapidly. Georgia, Haiti, Armenia and Mauritius, are among the 10 countries having the lowest tariffs as measured by the simple average MFN tariff. Neither the European Union nor Japan is among the top 10.

Developing countries showing large declines in import restrictions since the beginning of this decade include Egypt, which reduced its average MFN tariff from 47 to 17 percent; the Seychelles, dropping its average tariff from 28 to eight percent; India, reducing from 32 to 15 percent; and Mauritius, which reduced its average from 18 to just 3.5 percent.

These observations emerge from the World Trade Indicators (WTI), a unique new database and ranking tool that allows benchmarking and comparisons among 210 countries and customs territories, across multiple trade-related indicators. The easy-to-use web-based tool is aimed at helping policymakers, negotiators and researchers assess each country's performance relative to others' as well as relative to its historical achievements.

AND MUCH MORE.....
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] ILO: ECONOMIC AND LABOUR MARKET PAPERS [2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

International Labour Organization (ILO)
Employment and Labour Markets Analysis
Research Papers
Economic and Labour Market Papers:
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/strat/publ/researchpap.htm


2008/4  Is Asia adopting flexicurity? A survey of employment policies in six countries
< http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/download/elm/elm08-4.pdf >
Paul Vandenberg
International Labour Office, 2008

2008/3  Seguridad de los mercados laborales: Combinando flexibilidad y seguridad para el trabajo decente
< http://www.ilo.org/public/spanish/employment/download/elm/elm08-3.pdf >
Peter Auer
International Labour Office, 2008

2008/2 La sécurité du marché du travail : comment conjuguer flexibilité et sécurité pour l'emploi décent
< http://www.ilo.org/public/french/employment/download/elm/elm08-2.pdf >
Peter Auer
International Labour Office, 2008

2008/1 Labour Market Regulation and Economic Performance: A Critical Review of Arguments and Some Plausible Lessons for India
< http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/download/elm/elm08-1.pdf >
Praveen Jha, Sakti Golder
International Labour Office, 2008

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] ILO: EMPLOYMENT WORKING PAPERS [2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

International Labour Organization (ILO)
ED/EMP/DOC
Employment Sector Information and Documentation Center

Employment Working Papers
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/docu/wpaper/


ISSN 1999-2939 (print), ISSN 1999-2947 (online)

   * 11. A perspective from the MNE Declaration to the present: mistakes, surprises and newly important policy implications - forthcoming
   * by Theodore H. Moran
   * ISBN 978-92-2-120606-4 (print), 978-92-2-120607-1 (web pdf), 2008

   * 10. School-to-work transition: Evidence from Nepal - (pdf 568 KB)
< http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/download/wpaper/wp10.pdf >
   * by New Era
   * ISBN 978-92-2-121354-3(print), 978-92-2-121355-0 (web pdf), 2008

   * 9. The impact of globalization and macroeconomic change on employment in Mauritius: What next in the post-MFA era? - (pdf 755 KB)
< http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/download/wpaper/wp9.pdf >
   * by Naoko Otobe
   * ISBN 978-92-2-120235-6 (print), 978-92-2-120236-3 (web pdf), 2008

   * 8. Skills development for industrial clusters: Preliminary review - (pdf 365 KB)
< http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/download/wpaper/wp8.pdf >
   * by Marco Marchese and Akiko Sakamoto
   * ISBN 978-92-2-121279-9 (print), 978-92-2-121280-5 (web pdf), 2008

   * 7. Improving skills and productivity of disadvantaged youth - (pdf 287 KB)
< http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/download/wpaper/wp7.pdf >
   * by David H. Freedman
   * ISBN 978-92-2-121277-5 (print), 978-92-2-121278-2 (web pdf), 2008

   * 6. Challenges and approaches to connect skills development to productivity and employment growth: India - forthcoming
   * by C.S. Venkata Ratnam and Arvind Chaturvedi
   * ISBN 978-92-2-121275-1 (print), 978-92-2-121276-8 (web pdf), 2008

   * 5. Skills and productivity in the informal economy - (pdf 640 KB)
< http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/download/wpaper/wp5.pdf >
   * by Robert Palmer
   * ISBN 978-92-2-121273-7 (print), 978-92-2-121274-4 (web pdf), 2008

   * 4. Offshoring and employment in the developing world: The case of Costa Rica - (pdf 382 KB)
< http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/download/wpaper/wp4.pdf >
   * by Christoph Ernst and Diego Sanchez-Ancochea
   * ISBN 978-92-2-121259-1 (print), 978-92-2-121260-7 (web pdf), 2008

   * 3. Recognizing ability. The skills and productivity of persons with disabilities. Literature review - (pdf 344 KB)
< http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/download/wpaper/wp3.pdf >
   * by Tony Powers
   * ISBN 978-92-2-121271-3 (print), 978-92-2-121272-0 (web pdf), 2008

   * 2. Integrating mass media in small enterprise development: Current knowledge and good practices - (pdf 418 KB)
< http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/download/wpaper/wp2.pdf >
   * by Gavin Anderson; Edited by Karl-Oskar Olming and Nicolas MacFarquhar
   * ISBN 92-2-121142-6 (print), 92-2-121143-3 (web pdf), 2008

   * 1. Challenging the myths about learning and training in small and medium-sized enterprises: Implications for public policy - (pdf 552 KB)
< http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/download/wpaper/wp1.pdf >
   * by David Ashton, Johnny Sung, Arwen Raddon and Trevor Riordan
   * ISBN 92-2-120555-5 (print), 92-2-120556-2 (web pdf), 2008

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] Dublin Foundation: TELEFONICA--Case Study: CODES OF CONDUCT & INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTS: New forms of governance at company level [25 June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)

Codes of conduct and international framework agreements: New forms of governance at company level - Case study: Telefónica [25 June 2008]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef079211.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2007/9211/en/1/ef079211en.pdf
[full-text, 15 pages]

Author: Sobzcak, André; Schömann, Isabelle; Wilke, Peter

Summary: This case study provides an overview of the international framework agreement reached between the global telecommunications group Telefónica and Union Network International (UNI). Referred to as the UNI­Telefónica Code of Conduct, the agreement was first reached in March 2001 and further revised in December 2007. The report also profiles Telefónica as a company and presents the industrial relations context. The case study is based on an interview which was conducted in March 2008 with a UNI representative who was involved in the UNI­Telefónica Code of Conduct.

CONTENTS
Information about the company
Industrial relations context
UNI­Telefónica Code of Conduct
Outcomes and impact
Annex 1: UNI­Telefónica Code of Conduct
Annex 2 ­ Revised UNI­Telefónica Code of Conduct

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] New! THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL DIALOGUE UNDER ARTICLES 138 & 139 OF THE EC TREATY [June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Publisher: Wolters Kluwer, Kluwer Law International

The European Social Dialogue Under Articles 138 and 139 of the EC Treaty
by Christian Welz
June 2008,  ISBN 9041127445 ,  ISBN 13: 9789041127440
Hardcover  USD price: $172.00
http://www.kluwerlaw.com/Catalogue/titleinfo.htm?ProdID=9041127445&name=The-European-Social-Dialogue-Under-Articles-138-and-139-of-the-EC-Treaty


The concept of "social dialogue" pervades discussions of labour relations in Europe. In the estimation of many scholars and policymakers, the concept opens the way to an entirely new and potentially transformative paradigm in deliberative democracy. But is the European social dialogue, as it is currently evolving, in fact contributing to a better balance between efficiency, equity, and voice­i.e., to a polity of good governance and a more equitable society? Who are the principals, who are the agents? Are the outcomes it is achieving to be considered successful, or are they disappointing? These are some of the questions addressed in this important new book.

The author, who has extensive experience both in the academic and policy worlds of labour relations law at the EU level, describes, analyses, and assesses the European social dialogue from a combined theoretical and normative perspective. He applies theoretical strands stemming from industrial relations, EC law, and political theory to an understanding and assessment of the genesis, actors, processes, and outcomes of the European social dialogue through 2007, testing some of the leading theories and offering insights as he proceeds. He then investigates whether Articles 138 and 139 EC seem to engender good governance­i.e., whether such indicators as openness, participation, accountability, effectiveness, coherence, democratic legitimacy, and the contribution of the European social dialogue to a more subsidiary and proportionate decision-making at EU level are well-served by the 'practice' dimension of the social dialogue. Relevant EU legislation, European social partners' agreements and ECJ case law are fully taken into account.

In its elaboration of an integrated analytical framework for the European social dialogue, its assessment of whether the European social dialogue constitutes a polity of good governance and its insightful recommendations for improvement and further theory building, this book promises to become a landmark in the evolution of a labour relations theory that is attracting attention far beyond Europe as a global way forward in one of the most fundamental proving areas of the democratic polity.


Table of contents

Contents: Preface.

I. Introduction.

II. The European Social Dialogue under Articles 138 and 139 EC from a Theoretical and Normative Perspective. A. The European Social Dialogue from a Multi-disciplinary Theoretical Perspective: A Polity at the Crossroads. B. The European Social Dialogue from a Normative Perspective: A Form of Good Governance?

III. Actors. 1. European Social Partners. 2. Representativeness of the European Social Partners. 3. European Institutions and Bodies. 4. National Social Partners and Governments. 5. Interim Conclusions: Evaluation of the Actors.

IV. Processes. 1. The Evolution of the European Social Dialogue: From Paris via Val Duchesse to Brussels. 2. European Social Dialogue under Article 138 EC. 3. European Social Dialogue under Article 139 EC. 4. Judicial Review by the European Court of Justice and Dispute Resolution. 5. Interim Conclusions: Evaluation of the Processes.

V. Outcomes: Successes versus Failures.

VI. Conclusion, Assessment and Recommendations. List of Tables and Figures. Abbreviations/Acronyms. Country Codes. Bibliography. Index
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


Thursday, June 26, 2008

[IWS] KLI: [KOREA] LABOR TRENDS, June 2008 [25 June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Korea Labor Institute (KLI)

[KOREA] LABOR TRENDS, June 2008 [25 June 2008]
https://www.kli.re.kr/kli/html_eng/06_trend/engtrendboard/view.asp?seq=67&page=1&mode=2&ctop=1&csub=0&lsize=0&syear=0&stype=0&stext =

Information in the following categories:

Total Employment and Labor Force
Unemployment
Employment Trends by Industry
Job Growth by Employment Status

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] JILPT: NEW DEVELOPMENTS in EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAW [online 6 June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

The Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training (JILPT)
JILPT REPORT No. 6
2008
¯ 2008 JILPT Comparative Labor Law Seminar ¯

New Developments in Employment Discrimination Law [6 June 2008]
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/documents/JILPTRNo6.pdf
[full-text, 211 pages]

Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction Hiroya Nakakubo
Hitotsubashi University
Senior Research Fellow, JILPT
Takashi Araki
The University of Tokyo
Senior Research Fellow, JILPT
1. United States Employment Discrimination Law in the United States: On the Road to Equality?
Risa Lieberwitz
Cornell University
··················································1
2. United Kingdom New Developments in Employment Discrimination Law: The UK Report
Catherine Barnard
Trinity College, Cambridge ·································· 31
3. Germany New Developments in Employment Discrimination Law - Country Report: Germany
Bernd Waas
University of Hagen ············································· 55
4. France Discrimination Law in France
Pascal Lokiec
University Paris XIII ············································ 77
5. Australia Australian Anti-Discrimination Laws - Framework, Developments and Issues
Belinda Smith
University of Sydney············································ 93
6. Korea New Developments in Employment Discrimination in Korea
Sung-Wook Lee
Ewha Womans University ·································· 119
7. Taiwan Employment Discrimination in Taiwan
Cing-Kae Chiao
Academia Sinica·················································141
8. Japan Employment Equality Law in Japan: Human Rights or Employment Policy?
Ryoko Sakuraba
Kobe University ·················································181
List of Participants
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] JILPT: [JAPAN] LABOR CONTRACT ACT -- Provisional Translation [19 June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

The Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training (JILPT)

PROVISIONAL TRANSLATION [19 June 2008]

[JAPAN] Labor Contract Act
(Act No. 128 of December 5, 2007)
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/laborinfo/library/documents/llj_law17.pdf
[full-text, 13 pages]

CONTENTS
Chapter I General Provisions (Articles 1.5)………………4
Chapter II Establishment of and Changes to A Labor
Contract (Articles 6.13)…………………………6
Chapter III Continuation and Termination of A Labor
Contract (Articles 14-16)………………………..9
Chapter IV Fixed.Term Labor Contract (Article 17)…….10
Chapter V Miscellaneous Provisions (Articles 18.19)…..11
Supplementary Provisions………………………………………….12

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                            
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************

[IWS] ETUC Resolution on NANOTECHNOLOGIES & NANOMATERIALS [26 June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)

ETUC Resolution on nanotechnologies and nanomaterials [26 June 2008]
http://www.etuc.org/a/5163
or
http://www.etuc.org/IMG/pdf_ETUC_resolution_on_nano_-_EN_-_25_June_08.pdf
[full-text, 7 pages]


Press Release 26 June 2008
ETUC wants precautionary principle applied to nanotechnologies
http://www.etuc.org/a/5159

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) adopted a first resolution on nanotechnologies and nanomaterials at its recent Executive Committee meeting. The key demand: the precautionary principle must apply to nanotechnologies.

Nanotechnology is a fast-growing field of activity in many sectors of industry, especially the chemical, pharmaceutical and electronics industries. As a result, the number of workers coming into contact with nanomaterials ­ objects whose size is measured in billionths of a metre ­ is set to rise sharply in the coming years. The ETUC is convinced that nanotechnologies and manufactured nanomaterials might have considerable development and application potential. However, the ETUC notes that significant uncertainties revolve around both the benefits of nanotechnologies to our society and their harmful effects of manufactured nanomaterials on human health and the environment. "After the asbestos scandal, the ETUC finds it unacceptable that products should now be manufactured without their potential effects on human health and the environment being known unless a precautionary approach has been applied and made transparent to the workers", argues ETUC Confederal Secretary Joël Decaillon. The resolution sets out a series of demands on different aspects of nanotechnology development:

Marketing:

*
 REACH's "no data, no market" principle must apply: nanometre forms of chemicals should not be allowed on the market unless sufficient data are supplied to show no harmful effect for human health and the environment;
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 All nanomaterials, including those produced or imported in quantities below 1 tonne per year, must come within the REACH registration requirements;
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 A chemical safety report must be produced for all REACH-registered substances for which a nanometre scale use has been identified.

Worker protection:

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 Amend Chemical Agents Directive 98/24/EC to require employers to implement risk reduction measures for substances not proven to be harmless;
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 Involve workers and their representatives in the assessment and reduction of nanomaterial-related risks;
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 Improve worker information about nanomaterials that may be present in products to which they are exposed: safety data sheets must state whether nanomaterials are present;
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 Provide training and health surveillance for workers exposed to nanomaterials.

R & D:

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 Earmark at least 15% of public research budgets for health and environmental aspects;
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 Make health and safety at work aspects a compulsory part of all research projects.

The ETUC calls on the European Commission and Member States to ensure real participation by European citizens in the debate on these new technologies.

*
 < http://www.etuc.org/a/5163> ETUC resolution on nanotechnologies and nanomaterials
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Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
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