Global supply chains e diritto del lavoro: quale ruolo per il sindacato?

In recent years, a few states have enacted laws concerning the respect of
(some) labour standards along multinational corporations’ (MNCs) global supply
chains (GSCs). The European Union too seems to move in the same direction.
However, those initiatives usually fail to consider the pivotal role that global unions
can play in the enforcement process. This paper thus explores the advantages of
involving unions in the control of GSCs.
In the first section, we present a typology of existing laws concerning GSCs. In the
second section, we argue that single states lack instruments for an effective
enforcement of such laws. In the third section, we show how global unions can
concretely help to monitor working conditions along GSCs.
Finally, we draw the conclusion that a fair cooperation between MNCs and unions
under the supervision of the state can significantly improve working conditions
along GSCs. Moreover, a recognition of global unions’ role in the field of corporate
governance may have positive side effects on transnational collective bargaining
and social responsibility.