Wednesday 17 November 2010
Friday 12 November 2010
Summery Child labour
Child labour is defined as work that has performed by children under the age of 18 which employed in unsuitable or hazardous occupation. This can harm or restrict a child’s physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth.[i]
Child labour legislation and laws
· Convention on the Rights of the Child
In accordance with The United Nations, there has adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR) 1948 which has posited that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”[ii]
· ILO Convention on Child Labour
International Labour Organisation has encouraged the two key instruments of international law. Firstly, ILO Convention No. 138 on the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment and Work. Secondly, ILO Convention 182 for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour which “helped to focus the international spotlight on the urgency of action to eliminate as a priority, Worst forms of child labour without losing the long term goal of the effective elimination of all child labour.”[iii]
Causes of Child Labour
The main cause which persuades children to the worst is poverty.[iv] Due to the fact that many poor families send their children to work for reasons of economic expediency in order to ensure income security and survival. Consequently, this contributes to block their children’s education.
Furthermore, another factor may provoke this cycle is that inadequate school facilities. It appears that schools in underdeveloped countries are often unreachable as well as inadequate teaching and classroom resources. Many poor nations do not have free compulsory education for all children, which is an obstacle to impelling working children to school.
Although, many countries have national child labour laws that define a minimum age for work and legislate working conditions, but these laws tend to be only effective in dealing child labour abuses in the formal sector in urban areas. Moreover, increasing quality and improvement to education is also a key factor to reduce child labour. It suggests that “If an education system is to attract and retain children, its quality and relevance must be improved as well. Children who attend school are less likely to be involved in hazardous or exploitative work.”
[i] The International Labor Organisation(ILO), ‘Child Labour’ <http://www.ilo.org/global/Themes/Child_Labour/lang--en/index.htm> accessed 30 October 2010
[ii] The United Nations, ‘The Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ <http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml> accessed 2 November 2010
[iii] The International Labor Organisation(ILO) (n 1)
[iv] One world, ‘Child Labour guide’ <http://uk.oneworld.net/guides/childlabour#Laws> accessed 31 October 2010
Summery FOB
The definition of FOB
FOB stands for “Free on Board” FOB means the seller delivers when the goods pass the ship’s rail at the named port of shipment. This means that the buyer has to responsible for all costs and risks of loss or damage to the goods. The FOB term requires the seller to clear the goods for export.[i] Under FOB, the seller provides to the transportation by loading the goods on a vessel selected by the buyer at the agreed port.
FOB - obligations of the buyer
As the buyer, the costs and risks associated with the goods only become the buyer’s responsibility when the goods pass across a ship's rail.
FOB - obligations of the seller
As the seller’s duty delivering the goods to a carrier on a date within agreed period at the named port of shipment6[ii] nominated by the buyer.
The advantages of FOB
- For the buyer
- The buyer can control the shipping costs and determine the routing and mode of transport at a known price and the port of shipment.
- FOB shipping term supports the buyer for foreign country restriction.
- FOB price is not all-inclusive, the buyers are able to limit or reduce their liabilities.
- Nominate the suitable vessel.[iii]
The disadvantages of FOB
- For the buyer
- The liability for damage or loss of the goods lies within the buyer after the goods are on board the vessel means that the buyers have full responsibilities and obligations of the goods afterward.
- For the seller
1. The seller disengages to control over the goods once the goods are loaded on board which may be an issue if problems occur once the goods are out of the country.
Obviously, there are some advantages and therefore the implications need to be considered before the agreement is made. Nevertheless, without a clear understanding of the rights and responsibilities in each term of contract or selecting an inappropriate form of contract could lead to the problems consequently.
Referances
[i]Preambles to Incoterm 2000 ‘FOB preamble’(PDF) International Chamber of Commerce Preambles, http://www.iccwbo.org/incoterms/preambles/pdf/FOB.pdf accessed 3 November 2010
[ii]Incoterm 2000:ICC official rules for international trade term <www.searates.com/referance/incoterms/fob> accessed 2 November 2010
[iii] Elis Terelle,’CIF or FOB this is a question? Main features for the two contract for the international sale of goods’< http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/ciforfobthisisthequestion.pdf > accessed 3 November 2010
[1]Preambles to Incoterm 2000 ‘FOB preamble’(PDF) International Chamber of Commerce Preambles, http://www.iccwbo.org/incoterms/preambles/pdf/FOB.pdf accessed 3 November 2010
[1]Incoterm 2000:ICC official rules for international trade term <www.searates.com/referance/incoterms/fob> accessed 2 November 2010
[1] Elis Terelle,’CIF or FOB this is a question? Main features for the two contract for the international sale of goods’< http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/ciforfobthisisthequestion.pdf > accessed 3 November 2010
Wednesday 3 November 2010
Child Labor
One of a main issue for child labor in many developing countries is cause by poverty. ILO (International Labor Organization) statistic shows that one out of six children
age between 5-17 year-old have to work instead of study and it is believed that the statistic particularly in Asia and Africa are higher. Actually, child labor is not a new issue, in some of developed countries many years ago, a large number of children were forced to work in such as a farm or a factory therefore there had been encouraged that child labor was illegal and unaccepted. However, later on, in those wealthy counties, child labor was disappeared because of better economy. In this issue, they have been argued that child labor is a cause or a result of poverty as is mentioned earlier.
In the part 4-5 years, some of economists including ILO had a doubt and expressed their opinions that a reason why some poor countries were still poor was because child labor was permitted and acceptable means that child labor was not a reason but were a result. They explained that poverty occurred for example child labor means that children who are under 12 do not go to school and they will have less chance to get a good job therefore if child labor is legal it means that it bar an investment in human capital. In addition, hiring child labor can low an average adult labor’s minimum wage because employing child labor is much cheaper. Those reasons may be reliable but it is none of statistic evidence to support.
However, no matter child labor is a cause or result of poverty many of children still work hard and produce cheap product to people around the world but for themselves they have not get appropriate education and an opportunity to have joyfully life as other children in their age.
Monday 1 November 2010
What is Basel III?
After financial crisis in 2007 had consequence impact on economic recession around the world including EU, therefore commercial banks strict to such as granting credit in domestic including business, household and event their disbelieve in those commercial banks.
In this regard, 27 members decided to improve Basel III which raise quality sum of capital and buffer capital. Under the Basel III many of commercial banks increase the capital stock more than one hundred billion in ten years. As a result of this, it can be said that dividends for an investor may decrease.
Nevertheless, new regulations under Basel III somehow strengthen a sustainable system of banking and ability to encounter unexpected crisis without rely on only in government budget which eventually is tax from the people.
Sufficiency Economy
Among competition in business world, money has become basic necessity and the most important factors in life. However, in past years many countries including powerful countries around the world have suffered from economic recession or great depression. As in my country Thailand we had suffered from bubble economic in 1997 in this situation sufficiency economy which is a philosophy bestowed by His Majesty the King has been advised to his people more than 20 years before economic crisis occurred. The philosophy suggests guidance on appropriate conduct in life and point the way to recovery that will contribute to sustainable economy and be able to meet other changes in globalization.
The development according to a philosophy, the principle is based on moderate practice by considering limitation, reasonableness and morality including application of knowledge. It is important to strengthen the moral of the nation so that everyone such as businessman, public sections or academics insists on the principles.
Sufficiency philosophy was received an admiration from UN in 2006 and the UN attempted to encourage its member adhere to the principle of integrity. Sufficiency economy is a conceptual framework that leads to theory or major principles. The philosophy can be said that it can recover and protect the economy from crisis or unexpected global changes. May be we should consider a new theory of development which leads to sustainable and interdependent economy more the world that full of competition that which country will be the most powerful and wealthiest.
Sunday 31 October 2010
Electronic information affects on International trade
In a business world today has been considerably change especially applying technology to assist in a business action. In international trade issue technology is necessary such as internet has played an important role in transaction to increase trading of goods services and information rapidly. Because of this, there must be rule or law in related filed support this situation for example not only Intellectual Property law but also Data Protection Law which related to privacy of a person such as a rights to have a privacy in homestead, a rights to collect personal data. One of issues that many counties express concern is privacy in personal data because of a progress of computer which has affected to communication, transfer and connects a variety of information is unlimited of time and places. On the other hand, some people may use technology to infringe others such as Computer Espionage particularly in trade secret can cause major damage for their business.
As a result if this, many countries have realized of the issue and established two international organizations which are The Council of Europe released Convention for the Protection of Individual with regard to the Automatic Processing of Personal Data in 1981 and The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) agreed to have Guidelines Governing the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Data Flows of Personal Data.
Those guidelines have a substantially effect in many counties has signed COE Convention and adopted principles of the guideline to their domestic law. Furthermore, in 1995 and 1997 EU had legislated Directive 95/46/EC and The Telecommunication Directive in order to encourage coherent principles among members.
Saturday 30 October 2010
UK Social Welfare Reform
After Conservative Party has announced new plan for social welfare on Monday (Oct 4th) some people may doubt that these can actually enforce. By looking at main idea of it the government consolidates benefits of social welfare which are complicate and different. However, a scale of the reform can be successful because the plan of social welfare of this government will begin in 2013 and overthrow of those probably take 8-10 years while the next election will appoint in 2015 therefore attempting to those change may not possibly complete. In addition willing to solve problem of poverty trap which people who receive an advantage of social welfare will gain more income but working less according to David Cameron the prime minister stated that they will make everyone feels worth to work and also receive worth benefit especially child benefit.
Nevertheless, this government stated that these change will benefit their country and support transparency and fairness in the society and UK
To be continue to follow that UK government with a new major reform perhaps just a dream or can possibly real most people wish these can actually work because UK will become an original of state of welfare that had the best attendant for their people.
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Fair Trade
Fair Trade
Fair Trade is one of a phenomenon for marketing which has the purpose to remove the commercial barrier and help the developing countries about lack of a capacity to contest in an international stage.
Products of Fair Trade are supported by developed countries such as Oxfam in United Kingdom , Fair Trade labeling organizations in Germany and Transfair International in United States and Canada
The beginning of Fair Trade occurred in 1940 and 1950 before a logo of Fair Trade was created by Fair Trade labeling organizations (FLO) became well-known.
Some of private and social organizations tried to suggest a new option in marketing world for the developing countries by buying agricultural and handicraft from a real producer in an appropriate price, because they divined that a commercial of liberalism sometimes can cause problems about distribution of profit because of Free Trade may unfair. Moreover, Fair Trade also provides a market-place for producers in order to avoid trading under a liberalism system.
Products of Fair Trade mean products which are produced based on fair trade and the price of the products are higher than standard’s price within one condition that a part of a profit will turn back into support a community such as education, public health or other projects.
Nowadays, beside handicraft and agricultural products, Fair Trade expand to have more variety of products for example tea, coffee, food, rice, wine, beer, ice cream, jewelries due to sport equipment like a football. Fair Trade nowadays become popular especially in Europe.In United Kingdom, a famous department store “Mark and Spenser” or “Tesco” are selling more than 140 different kinds of Fair Trade products.
Fair Trade perhaps is not the best way to solve the problem for international trade but
this can be said that it is such a good sign that people in the developed world have realized and attempting to help people in another world who may sometimes have to follow under liberal marketing even they might suffer from an unfairness.
Monday 25 October 2010
Geographical Indications
Geographical Indications
International trade has many factors; one of important element is an intellectual property or the right to protect a producer. It can be used to protect the rights and also increases a profit to a producer. One of interested kind is Geographical indications – GI.
GI refers to a place name or a country of origin, quality and reputation of goods or product for example (“Champaign ”, “Bordeaux
AO is another agreement contained in the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration under WIPO.
The negotiations on geographical indications of WTO has not make a move as it should be and such a protection in a reality seems inefficiency except wine and alcoholic beverage. WIPO may see the point therefore they attempt to improve AO system to be more effective. There are some interesting points between GI an AO
Firstly, AO under Lisbon Agreement has a registration system to protect within an international level as WTO although tried to set a similar system but has not concluded yet. Besides AO extend to protect for all kind of product but GI provides a level of protection in only wines and spirits. However there are a few number of countries just only 27 countries under AO system meanwhile WTO has more than 170 members.
Secondly, a cope of a protection, some people said that GI can protect wider than AO and already covered AO but some people said that a scope of protection of AO provide more than GI because not only geographical. In Lisbon Agreement used the word “geographical denominations” but TRIPS used “indications that identify a good as originating in the territory..." anyhow
Among some arguments at the present time, it can be said that EU is a key and an important player of this. Some readers might have known that EU seems strongly support GI by looking at a reaction on negotiation. However EU has a limitation in registration and protection only wines, spirits and food not cover to another type of products or services. It can be said that both GI and AO still have a restriction at international level and some point still has a resistant from other countries and some of EU such as Germany which may not be surprise if we look at this issue as it adopted from domestic law in France
Some countries have set domestic law to support GI or AO already because they hope that it will make a profit or benefit for their main export products. Despite an expectation only for an international protection which depends on WTO perhaps is not enough because it still has not found a final solution yet. Support and promotion system in our own country in order to protect a knowledge and value local products seem to be a better way for now. At the same time, we should follow an agreement on WTO or Lisbon
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