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.