Does GATS pose a challenge for the European Social Model? Implications for regulatory capacity, employment, labour markets and trade unions.
Description
The project explores various concerns surrounding services trade liberalisation under the World Trade Organisation General Agreement of Trade in Services (GATS) and addresses three key issues:
- To what extent will services trade liberalization under GATS affect the regulatory-capacity of the national governments in the EU?
- What impacts of trade liberalisation are to be expected on labour markets in terms of employment levels, working conditions and pay?
- Based on the assessment of possible changes in these two main areas, what are the implications for workers' representation and trade unions?
The research questions are explored both at the aggregate EU level and with respect to different Member States of the EU.
At the aggregate level, literature review and interviews with national government representatives are carried out in order to understand how services economies are regulated across selected member states, and what regulatory changes are/will be needed in order to comply with GATS rules and commitments.
For labour market impacts we will explore the possibility of applying a modelling approach but mainly draw upon sectoral examples and rely on Eurostat, OECD, UNCTAD and possibly Global Trade Analysis Project data. The study also addresses the likelihood of GATS having different impacts on Member States. For this purpose, 2 comparative case studies are planned on liberalization of construction and postal services under GATS in Germany, United Kingdom and Poland.
In order to address the uncertainty of the negotiations outcome, the analysis is structured around two alternative liberalisation scenarios. Furthermore, project is limited to the effects of Mode 3 (commercial presence) and Mode 4 (temporary movement of workers) of services delivery.
The implications of GATS for trade unions will be drawn out at the end of the study focusing, first, on the aggregate level of changing environment for trade unions and, second, addressing the possible ‘convergence of differences in the European Social Model in selected countries.
The final workshop will take place in December 2007. The publication (book) is foreseen for December 2007.
Researchers
Andrew Watt
Senior researcher, ETUI-REHSphone: +32 (0) 2 224 05 12
