Title: Call for Presentations
Author:
Section/SPIG: Occupational Health and Safety
Issue Date:
Workplace Health and Safety in the Global Economy
April 28-29, 2005 (Worker Memorial Day)
University of Oregon, Eugene
Sponsored by
Labor Education and Research Center, University of Oregon
Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics, University of Oregon
International Labour Office Programme on Socio-Economic Security
Maquiladora Health and Safety Support Network
National Council for Occupational Safety and Health
Global economic integration is having profound effects on working conditions in developing and industrialized countries. Only a decade ago the concerns of North American workers, unions, and public interest groups were primarily for the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on labor and environmental conditions. While the limited procedures put in place to address these concerns under NAFTA have had little effect, the whole debate has been superseded by events on the ground, particularly the emergence of China as an enormous center of manufacturing. Debate continues as to whether globalization constitutes a “race to the bottom” for wages and working conditions or an inevitable and ultimately positive development for citizens of all countries. The recent report published by the International Labour Office, "A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All," highlights the discrepancies between the promise and reality of globalization.
This conference is planned to coincide with Worker Memorial Day 2005. Its primary objectives are to focus on public policy, NGO, labor, and corporate responses to improve working conditions in both the developing and industrial nations experiencing these economic shifts, and to further an international network of researchers, practitioners, and activists addressing these issues. The conference will use the lens of workplace health and safety conditions and standards to examine the impacts of rapid globalization and the public policy issues it raises.
Conference Topics
Contributions are sought in the following areas:
- How do mechanisms in existing trade agreements dealing with labor and environmental standards and practices function in reality, and what measures are needed to improve their effectiveness? Are there viable models of global governance, particularly in the area of OHS?
- Presentations by multinational corporate representatives who are actually engaged in programs to improve health and safety conditions and standards in developing country manufacturing and/or service operations, whether their own or contract suppliers.
- Barriers to effective regulation and enforcement of workplace safety and health standards. Analysis of the gap between laws and regulations and effective enforcement, particularly in developing countries.
- Case studies of cross-border labor and NGO collaboration in worker rights campaigns, OHS training/technical assistance, tracking the export of hazards, and related efforts. Cases involving Central America, China/SE Asia, and Africa are of particular interest.
- Capacity building of occupational health and safety infrastructure in developing countries.
- Documentation of workplace health and safety status of immigrant workers and government, labor, and community strategies to assist immigrants on labor rights and working conditions, particularly in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe.
We strongly encourage contributions from practitioners and activists as well as researchers. Contributions may be in the form of standard research papers, case studies, policy papers, and curricula. The program will be organized to maximize opportunities for interaction and dialogue.
Submission Guidelines
Proposals for papers and presentations must include:
- Name(s), position, affiliation
- Address, telephone, and e-mail contact information
- Title of paper/presentation
- An abstract of no more than 500 words. The abstract should clearly describe the research question, policy issue, case study, or other topic the presentation addresses and how the proposed submission relates to one or more of the themes outlined above.
Deadline for submission of proposals is Oct. 15, 2004
Proposals may be submitted electronically (preferably in MS Word) to:
<shecker@uoregon.edu> or via mail to:
Steven Hecker, Associate Professor
Labor Education and Research Center
1289 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403
USA
Conference Information
Location: University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
Fees and Travel: Conference registration fee is $150 ($75 students). The registration fee will be waived for presenters. Conference is free to University of Oregon faculty and students. Some funds for travel expenses may be available for presenters, with priority given to presenters from developing countries and NGOs. Further information will be available with notification of acceptance.
Important Dates:
Oct. 15, 2004 Deadline for proposal submission
Dec. 1, 2004 Notification of acceptance
April 8, 2005 Deadline for submission of draft papers/presentations
April 28-29, 2005 Conference