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2 City U. H.K. L. Rev. 99 (2010)
Economic Growth at the Price of Human Rights Violations? The Protection of Human/Labour Rights in Export Processing Zones

handle is hein.journals/ciunhok2 and id is 101 raw text is: Economic Growth at the Price of Human Rights Violations? The Protection of Human/Labour Rights in Export Processing Zones Christina Binder* While export processing zones (EPZs) are generally regarded to promote investment and employment, they are also criticisedfor theirpoorprotection of human and labour rights. Problems such as deficient enforcement of health and safety standards, weak or missing implementation of labour laws, and breaches of trade union rights are reported in EPZs. This article examines means and strategies to address the abridgment of human and labour rights in these zones. It provides an overview of the most problematic violations of human and labour rights in EPZs, and outlines the applicable international human rights and labour standards. More importantly, it examines various strategies to foster the implementation and enforcement of human rights and labour rights in EPZs, including state reporting and individual complaints procedures under general human rights treaties, International Labour Organisation's supervisory mechanisms, and other 'softer' tools. The article concludes with a more general perspective of what can be done to improve compliance with human rights and labour standards in EPZs, discussing the accountability/responsibility of transnational corporations as well as relevant corporate social responsibility initiatives. I. INTRODUCTION Countries employ various incentives to attract foreign investment. One of the most prominent is the establishment of export processing zones (EPZs). The EPZs - sometimes also called special economic zones (SEZs), a term mostly used in China and India,1 or industrial free zones - are usually set up to attract foreign investment, promote industrial and commercial exports, and stimulate the economy. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) defines EPZs as 'industrial zones with special incentives set up to attract foreign investors, in which imported materials undergo some degree of processing before being re-exported.'2 The basic Assistant Professor, Department of European, International and Comparative Law, University of Vienna. Dr Binder is recipient of an APART-fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. 1 See International Labour Organisation (ILO), 'Types of Zones: An Evolutionary Typology' <http://www.ilo. org/public/english/dialogue/sector/themes/epz/typology/htm> accessed 25 June 2010. 2 ILO, 'What are EPZs?' <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/themes/epz/epzs.htm> accessed 25 June 2010. (2010) 2 City University of Hong Kong Law Review 99-116

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