Trade agreements can be a useful tool in strengthening New Zealand’s economic performance, but they must be well designed. This means ensuring they deliver genuine opportunities for economic development in New Zealand, the creation of good jobs, and broadly rising living standards. It also means ensuring they do not undermine or fail to adequately protect workers’ fundamental rights in New Zealand or partner countries.
Unfortunately, the agreement currently before the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee does not meet these standards. Of particular concern for the NZCTU is the UAE’s poor record of upholding international labour rights and standards. The agreement before the committee contains a weak and non-binding labour chapter that will do nothing to improve labour rights and standards in the UAE.
The NZCTU is therefore opposed to the ratification of this agreement. We do not think it acceptable to provide preferential trade access to a country where workers’ rights are routinely and systematically abused.