Trade, ILO child labour standards and the social clause: definitions, doubts and (some) answers

The purpose of this chapter is to clarify the sources of the debate on social clauses and their current outlines relating to child labour, and to recognize some of the doubts or unanswerable questions presented. It is an attempt to clearly focus on the underlying issue and to offer some potential solutions. The purpose of the chapter is not to resolve the doubt as to whether or what limitations should be imposed on free trade in order to promote labour standards, nor to answer the perennial question as to whether or not the so-called social clause is an effective instrument for protecting children who work.