Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK Trade Agreements: Workers’ Rights

Thursday 21 April 2022 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister committed to maintaining international labour standards in UK trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand.
  • Government includes dialogue with trade unions in trade negotiations at every opportunity.
  • Labour standards in supply chains are part of ongoing trade negotiations with India.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Employment Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from concerns over the maintenance of international labour standards within UK trade deals.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that workers' rights are maintained in all UK trade agreements?

Answer from Penny Mordaunt

Both agreements with Australia and New Zealand commit parties to maintain international labour standards.

Answered
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Q2 Chris Elmore Lab Bridgend
Employment Business & Trade
Context

The TUC was promised a seat on a trade advisory board in November 2020 but has yet to be offered this position, despite other stakeholders having seats.

Question

Why do the Government have an issue with the TUC or any of our trade unions being seated at the negotiation table when they are important protectors of workers' rights?

Answer from Penny Mordaunt

The issue is that the unions have not taken up the seat they were offered, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has included dialogue with unions in our trade negotiations at every opportunity—most recently, with the work she has been doing to secure a US FTA—and we will continue to do that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The fact that the TUC was not offered a seat and has not taken up an offered seat

How: Dialogue With Unions In Our Trade Negotiations At Every Opportunity

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Q3 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Business & Trade
Context

Concerns over labour standards being addressed in the ongoing trade negotiations with India.

Question

Has the issue of labour standards in supply chains been raised with India during the trade negotiations?

Answer from Penny Mordaunt

The hon. Member will know from the trade negotiations that we have concluded already, that this always forms a part of those negotiations through our discussions and consultations. I can get her chapter and verse on that and some details. It is not one of the FTAs I look after, but I can assure her that that is a core part of our negotiations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The fact that the specific FTA falls outside Penny Mordaunt's responsibility

How: I Can Get Her Chapter And Verse On That And Some Details

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Q4 Ruth Cadbury Lab Brentford and Isleworth
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

Concern over the lack of enforcement mechanisms in a UK-Colombia trade agreement to protect workers' rights, with 22 assassinations of activists reported.

Question

With 22 assassinations of activists in Colombia in the last two years, why does the UK's trade deal with Colombia have no clear enforcement mechanisms to protect the rights of workers or trade unionists?

Answer from Penny Mordaunt

I refer the hon. Member to some remarks on this issue that I made last year in Westminster Hall, where I took the time to list some of the activists—trade union activists, environmental activists—who have been brutally murdered. I listed those people on the Floor in Westminster Hall because it is important that we shine a spotlight on those issues.

Not addressed: No mention of learning from past failures or ensuring better mechanisms in future agreements

How: I Refer The Hon. Member To Some Remarks On This Issue That I Made Last Year In Westminster Hall

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