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OxHRH

Xinjiang Cotton and Corporate Criminal Liability under Hong Kong’s National Security Law

Roshan Melwani - 15th April 2021

Business & Human Rights| Labour Rights

In recent months, rights experts have voiced increasing concern over reports of widespread human rights abuses and forced labour in Xinjiang. In turn, foreign governments have imposed economic sanctions on businesses and factories implicated in these abusive practices, particularly against companies using Xinjiang cotton either in their manufacturing processes or their supply-chain. The escalation of […]

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Saudi Arabia must protect financial rights of migrant workers

Ramy Abdu - 15th March 2021

Business & Human Rights| Immigration and Asylum| Labour Rights

On 14 March, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, long known for the oppressive treatment of foreign workers, enacted a law awarding more rights to foreign workers. However, more than half of those labourers, or five categories, remain subject to the country’s deeply exploitative kafala (sponsorship) system. That must change. While those covered by the legal […]

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OxHRH

India’s Sexual Harassment Law Wouldn’t be Effective Unless We Fix the Issue of ‘Limitation’

Swapnil Tripathi - 7th February 2021

Access to Justice| Gender| Labour Rights

Recently, the High Court of Delhi (India) refused to entertain a challenge to the dismissal of a Judicial Officer, who was found guilty for sexually harassing a Court Officer by the Internal Complaint Committee. This is one of the rare cases  where India’s otherwise ineffective law on sexual harassment has proven effective. Often, the strict […]

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OxHRH

Which workers and which unions can claim protection under freedom of association? The EU-Korea FTA Panel Decision Part II

Tonia Novitz - 5th February 2021

Freedom of Association| Labour Rights

This blog continues analysis of the EU-Korea FTA Expert Panel Report, focussing on the significance of the findings regarding ‘Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining’ on which the Parties had made legally enforceable commitments under Article 13.4.3 (see Part I of this blog). Rejecting the Korean accusation that […]

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OxHRH

Asserting Jurisdiction to Assess Compliance with ‘Multilateral labour standards and agreements’ – The EU-Korea FTA Panel Decision

Tonia Novitz - 4th February 2021

Labour Rights

On 25 January 2021, the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Korea (Korea) released the Report by a Panel of Experts (the Panel Report) on matters raised under the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement (the EU-Korea FTA Agreement or the Agreement). This was an eagerly anticipated decision for […]

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Suspension of Labour Laws in Uttar Pradesh Amidst COVID-19: A Fundamental Rights Emergency?

Hetal Doshi - 3rd June 2020

Labour Rights| Socio-Economic Rights and Labour Rights

On May 6, 2020, the Uttar Pradesh government, suspended 35 out of the 38 labour laws in the state for three years by enabling the Uttar Pradesh (Temporary Exemptions from Certain Labour Laws) Ordinance 2020 (“Ordinance”). This includes the Minimum Wages Act, The Trade Unions Act, The Industrial Disputes Act, The Factories Act etc. The […]

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OxHRH

We Must Stop the Corona Crash Becoming a Depression, with Ten Social Rights

Ewan McGaughey - 30th March 2020

Labour Rights| Socio-Economic Rights

The corona virus has triggered a stock market crash sharper and faster than the global financial crisis. It threatens a depression unless we aggressively protect social rights. Companies with plummeting share prices, or evaporating customers, are prone to individually rational, but socially irrational herd behaviour. Companies lose confidence and fire workers. Workers lose income, and […]

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OxHRH

Foodora Couriers are ‘Dependent Contractors’ Rules Ontario Labour Relations Board

Aradhana Cherupara Vadekkethil - 15th March 2020

Gig Economy and Human Rights| Labour Rights| Socio-Economic Rights| Socio-Economic Rights and Labour Rights

In August 2019, couriers working for Foodora Inc. (Foodora), a web services company that provides an online marketplace platform connecting consumers to restaurants, voted on whether to join the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), with the Board electing to seal the ballot box pending clarification of the couriers’ status. Unlike many other jurisdictions in […]

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OxHRH

French Court of Cassation Rules that Uber Drivers are Employees

Aradhana Cherupara Vadekkethil - 15th March 2020

Gig Economy and Human Rights| Labour Rights| Socio-Economic Rights| Socio-Economic Rights and Labour Rights

On 4th of March 2020, French Court of Cassation (the country’s highest court for civil matters) in a landmark ruling confirmed the Paris Court of Appeal’s finding that Uber drivers are employees. Mr. X had petitioned the industrial tribunal with a request to reclassify his contractual relations with Uber as an employment contract, and had […]

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Campaigning for a Living Wage and Fair Contracts at Oxford University

Oxford Living Wage Campaign - 6th March 2020

Equality and Non-Discrimination| Gender Equality| Labour Rights

Last week, the University of Oxford announced its commitment to pay the Oxford Living Wage (OLW) to all of its employees starting August 1, 2020. Currently set at £10.21/hr, the OLW is set by the local city council to reflect the relatively higher cost of living in Oxford, one of the UK’s most unaffordable cities. […]

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