The Labor government has a policy which requires enforceable commitments to internationally recognised labour rights and environmental standards in trade agreements, and to safeguard the rights of First Nations peoples and women. The announcement of negotiations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last year surprised many because the UAE has not ratified some basic labour rights and human rights international agreements and has the worst record on these issues of any Australian trading partner.
The Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network, the ACTU, the Australian Conservation Foundation, Amnesty, the Uniting Church, the Catholic Office for Justice Ecology and Peace, ActionAid and the Family Planning Alliance wrote a letter to the government providing evidence that the UAE is not a signatory to key UN and ILO Conventions protecting civil rights, freedom of association, the right to organise and the right to collective bargaining. Temporary migrant workers form more than 90% of the private sector workforce. Most non-professional migrant workers are employed under the kafala system, which ties them to........