MUIDS-MUN

2019

United Nations Human

Rights Council
Chair Report
Committee: United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

Agenda: The issue of the exploitation of workers in second and

third world countries.

Committee Introduction
The United Nations Human Rights Council, also
known as UNHRC, is an inter-governmental body
within the United Nations system with 47 States
responsible for the promotion and protection of all
human rights around the globe.

Agenda Introduction
I. General Overview
The agenda is “the issue of the exploitation of workers in second
and third world countries”. In order to gain a firm understanding
of this topic, we must first grasp on what second and third world
countries are.
The terms ‘first’, ‘second’ and ‘third’ world countries were first
used during the cold war. The United States, Canada, South
Korea, Japan, and Western European, nations and allies were
categorized as First World countries. These are countries that are
a part of NATO. Second world countries included China, Cuba,
the Soviet Union and their allies. These are the countries that are
a part of the communist block. Meanwhile, Third world
countries had colonial pasts in Asia, Africa, Latin America and
Oceania. These are countries were not a part of NATO nor the
communist block. However, after the fall of the Soviet Union in
the early 1990s, the terminology of the three words somewhat
changed. Nowadays, Third World countries are those that are
not as developed as others and face social, political, and
environmental issues, second world countries are those that are
developing, and first world countries are those that are
developed. Since second and third world countries are less
developed, the labour would cost less than labour in a developed
nation. Due to poverty, the locals would be willing to work for
small amounts of money. Private firms, known for their
tendency to maximize their profits with limited cost, would then
take advantage of that, leading to the exploitation of labour.

II. Definition of Key Terms

● Second World Countries
○ Countries that are undergoing development
● Third World Countries
○ Countries that are less developed and face social,
economic, and environmental issues
● Worker exploitation
○ The act of treating workers unfairly for their own
benefits
 Possible Solutions
I. Banning/ limiting free trade
Free trade eases the cost of transporting goods from one country
to another. Thus, when the cost of moving and transporting
goods decreased, more firms would settle and use the labour of
Second and Third World countries, leading to more labour
exploitation. Banning and limiting free trade would discourage
firms from transporting their goods to other countries for
manufacturing. Moreover, through tariffs, governments of less
developed countries would be able to earn more, allowing more
developments to take place in the country.

II. Rules, regulations, and government interventions

Governments should set up rules and regulations such as
minimum wage, work environment, and treatment. This would
stop the firms from being able to set the wage at a low price and
abusing labour. Regulations about working hours and working
environment would also decrease harsh treatments and
overworking.
III. Raise awareness
Awareness about labour exploitation must be raised, including
more promotion of products that does not exploit labour. This
would discourage firms from exploiting workers in fear of their
demands falling, affecting their revenue and profit. Subsidies
given to those kinds of firms would also encourage other firms
to not exploit workers.

Example policies from each country:

UK
UK Immigration Acts 2016
USA
Fair Labour Standard Acts
Germany
German Employment Protection Act
Russia
-
DPRK
-
South Korea
Employment Permit System
National Labor Relations Acts
Labor Standards Act
Minimum Wages Act
Industrial Safety and Health Act
India
Article 21 of the Constitution of India
Cuba
Cuban labor laws
Japan
Japan Immigration Policy
Technical Intern Training Program or TITP
China
Labour Law (1995), Trade Union Law (1992), Labour Contract
Law (2008), Labour Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law
(2008)
Malaysia
Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants
Act 2007
Workmen’s Compensation Act
Singapore
Foreign domestic workers are still excluded from the
Employment Act and many key labor protections, such as limits
on daily work hours. Labor laws also discriminate against
foreign workers by barring them from organizing and registering
a union or serving as union leaders without explicit government
permission.
France
https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/severe-labour
-exploitation-country_fr.pdf
Brazil
Australia
Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Act
2017
Israel
http://theconversation.com/how-israel-withholds-labour-rights-fr
om-the-west-banks-palestinian-workers-45508
Iran
https://cupe.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Booklet-IRAN-v
iolaion-of-workers-rights-prepared-for-CUPE-OD-ISC-FINAL-
May-22-2013-2.pdf
Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/servi
ces/foreign-workers/protected-rights.html