The EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment and the issue of forced labour

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the bilateral investment agreement concluded between the European Union and China. In particular, it analyzes the section on sustainable development which contains regulations on the issue of forced labour. It also provides an alysis of the same issue in the Chinese context.

The thesis is divided in two chapters. The first one gives an explanation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), illustrating its origins, objectives and structure. Furthermore it illustrates the path of negotiations that has led to the closing of the agreement. Finally, in the last sub-chapter, the sustainable development section is examined with a focus on the forced labour directives and their shortcomings.

The second chapter gives an overview of the issue of forced labour in China. It elucidades on the problems linked to the protection of Chinese workes and three elements linked to the issue: collective bargaining, sindicates and NGOs. Lastly, it describes the International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the fundamental ILO Conventions on forced labour, and the status of their ratification and implementation in China.