Supporters of free trade argue that one of its benefits is to increase wellbeing and enhance respect for workers’ rights. Nevertheless, this will not happen unless concrete requirements concerning such protection are inserted within the actual agreements. This thesis argues that trade agreements should include labor provisions that provide effective protection for core labor rights and that those rights are enforced by the Parties.

In the case of Taiwan, it has signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras; but only in the FTA with Nicaragua, a Labor Chapter (No. 18) has been introduced in the accord. It follows the United States- Dominican Republic- Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) design, and the signatories agree to enforce their own domestic labor laws and reaffirm their commitment to the internationally recognized labor rights.

However, the language of the agreement is merely aspirational, directing Parties to strive to improve their laws, but providing no effective reward or sanction in this reward.

 Agreement Between the United State of America and the Hashemite Kingdom Jordan on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area; signed in October 24, 2000.
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Jordan/asset_upload_file250_5112.pdf

 Aidt, Toke & Tzannatos, Zafiris. Unions and Collective Bargaining: Economic Effects in a Global Environment (Directions in Development). World Bank Publications. May, 2003.

 AMCHAM. Doing Business in Nicaragua 2006-07. American Chamber of Commerce of Nicaragua.

 Andrews, Edmund. Bush Administration Will Ask China to Agree to Broad Limits on Clothing Exports. The New York Times, pp. C3. August 2, 2005.

 Avin, Rose-Marie. Free Trade Zones and Women in Nicaragua: Exploitation or Empowerment? Wisconsin Coordinating Council on Nicaragua (WCCN). 2002.

 Banco Central de Nicaragua (Central Bank of Nicaragua). Tipo de Cambio Oficial (Oficial Exchange Rate). July 1-31 of 2008.
http://www.bcn.gob.ni/estadisticas/tasas/cambio/tipcamb08/avisos/avisojulio2008.htm

 Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h107-3005

 Calbreath, Dean. Heavy Lifting Ahead; President Bush has Proposed a Blitz of Free Trade Agreements, But They Haven’t Gained NAFTA-Like Attention. The San Diego Union- Tribune, pp. H-1. June 13, 2004.

 Campaign for Labor Rights. Nicaraguan Maquila Workers Strike and Gain Victory. January, 1998.
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/47/258.html

 Castillo, Moisés. Desalojan de Chentex a personal en huelga. (Chentex’s workers on strike were moved out) El Nuevo Diario. May 5, 2000.

- Nueva Huelga en Chentex. (Another strike in Chentex). El Nuevo Diario. May 28, 2000.

- Obispo norteamericano declara aqui: Zonas francas, un insulto para la dignidad humana ( North American Bishop Declares: The Free Trade Zones are an insult to human dignity). El Nuevo Diario. August 16, 2000.

 Center for Constitutional Rights. Manzanarez v. C&Y Sportswear, Nien Hsing Textile Co., Ltd. and Chentex Garments.
http://ccrjustice.org/ourcases/past-cases/manzanarez-v.-c%2526amp%3By-sportswear,-nien-hsing-textile-co.,-ltd.-and-chentex-garme

 Chan, Anita & Ross Robert. Racing to the bottom: international trade without a social clause. Third World Quarterly. Vol. 24, No. 6, pp: 1011-1028. 2003.

 Chau, Nancy H. & Kanbur, Ravi. The Race to the Bottom, from the Bottom. Economica. Volume 73, Issue 290, pp. 193-228, May 2006.

 Chen, Melody. Taiwan: FTA push moves into high gear. Taipei Times. November 8, 2004.

 CIOSL Confederación Internacional de Organizaciones Sindicales Libres (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions). Informe Anual sobre las Violaciones de los Derechos Sindicales 2002. (Annual Report on Violations of Trade Union Rights 2002).
http://www.icftu.org/www/pdf/pub_survey2002es.pdf

 Código Laboral de Nicaragua (Labor Code of Nicaragua). Ley No. 185 (Law No. 185). La Gaceta, No. 205. October 30, 1996.

 Collado, Roberto. Congresista demócrata espantado por abusos en Zona Franca. Grosera explotación. (Democratic Congressman horrified by abuses in Free Zone. Gross Exploitation). Nuevo Diario. July 16, 2000.

 Collins, Terry. Protest over Nicaraguan worker’s wages brings arrests at Roseville Kohl’s. Star Tribune. September 26, 2000.

 Constitución Política de Nicaragua y sus Reformas (Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua of 1987 with 1995 and 2000 Reforms).
http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Nica/nica87.html#tituloIVcapV

 Corea, Martha Daniela. En Chentex y Mil Colores. Delegación norteamericana verifica maltrato laboral. (In Chentex and Mil Colores. North American Delegation verifies labor maltreatment) La Prensa. July 16, 2000.

 Clinton, Bill. Expanding Trade and Creating American Jobs (speech). October 4, 1992.
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/academic/political-science/speeches/clinton.dir/c151.txtp

 Compa, Lance & Vogt, Jeffrey. Labor Rights in the Generalized System of Preferences: A 20-Year Review. Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp: 199-238. 2001.

 David, Natacha; Duvillier, Laurent; Eden, John; Grumiau, Samuel & Perman, Sarah. Behind Brand Names. Working Conditions and Labor Rights in Export Processing Zones. International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). December, 2004.

 Dessing, Maryke. The Social Clause and Sustainable Development. International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICSTD). 2001.

 Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement August 5, 2004.
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/CAFTA/CAFTA DR_Final_Texts/asset_upload_file320_3936.pdf

 Ehrenberg, Daniel. From Intention to Action: An ILO-GATT/WTO Enforcement Regime for International Labor Rights, in Human Rights, Labor Rights and International Trade. University of Pennsylvania Press. Pp: 163-180. 1996.

 El Observador Económico. Zonas Francas Industriales en Nicaragua: Héroes o Villanos? (EPZs in Nicaragua: Heroes or villains?) 2002.
http://www.elobservadoreconomico.com/archivo_anterior/119/zf.htm
http://www.elobservadoreconomico.com/archivo_anterior/119/zfcuadro.htm

 EurActiv.com. Interview news ‘Collective preferences’ is an EU attempt to silence domestic critique, says Vandana Shiva. March 10, 2004.
http://www.euractiv.com/en/trade/interview-news-collective-preferences-eu-attempt-silence-domestic-critique-vandana-shiva/article-113110

 European Commission. Generalized System of Preferences. GSP: The new EU preferential market access system for developing countries. Memo Brussels, 23 June 2005.
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/global/gsp/memo230605_en.htm

 Fagot, JoAnn. Nicaragua: Foreign Policy in the Revolutionary and Postrevolutioanry Era, pp.54; in Mora, Frank & Hey, Jeannette. Latin American and Caribbean Foreign Policy. 2003.

 Feitelberg, Rosemary. Kohl’s, Gap caught in Sweatshop Politics. Women’s Wear Daily. August 15, 2000.

 Ferrosa, Jaime. Free Zones as Logistic Plataforms and their Impact in the Development of Latin American Countries. International Association of Jesuit Business Schools. Presentation at the IAJBS VIII Annual Forum, Manufacturing and Technology in the Global Economy. USA, June 2001.

 Fonseca, Roberto. Labour Conflict Highlights EPZ Firm’s Importance. July, 1998.

 Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Republic of Nicaragua, signed on June 2006. The text was obtained from the Ministry of Development, Industry and Commerce of Nicaragua.
http://www.mific.gob.ni:81/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2135/CH00_PREAMBLE_NI_.pdf.

 Frundt, Henry. Trade Conditions and Labor Rights: U.S. Initiatives, Dominican and Central American Responses. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. 1998.

 Greenhouse, Steven. Critics Calling U.S. Supplier in Nicaragua a Sweatshop. New York Times. December 3, 2000.

 Hajewski, Doris. Protesters target Kohl’s executives, local store. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. August 22, 2000.

 Ho, Jessie. Taiwan, Nicaragua sign free trade pact. Taipei Times. June 17, 2006. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2006/06/17/2003314111

 Holschban, Amy. Union Workers used Kohl’s opening to protest sweatshops. Regional, Wisconsin’s Best Newspaper. August 19, 2000.

 Infoplease. Atlas, Map: Central America. http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/centralamerica.html

 International Labour Organization. A Fair Globalization: the Role of the ILO: Report of the Director General of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization. 2004.

- ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Document :(CIT/1998/PR20A). 1998.

- ILOLEX Database of International Labor Standards. http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/convdisp1.htm

 International Organization of Employers (IOE). The Evolving Debate on Trade and Labour Standards. IOE Information Paper. 2006.

 Krouse, Peter. Group protests Kohl’s alleged sweatshops ties. The Plain Dealer. August 25, 2000.

 Krugman, Paul. Does Third World Growth Hurt First World Prosperity? Harvard Business Review, July-August edition, pp. 113-121. 1994.

 Lamy, Pascal. The Emergence of collective preferences in international trade: implications for regulating globalization. Conference on Collective preferences and global governance: what future for the multilateral trading system. Brussels, 15 September 2004.

 Lara, Rafael. Planton CST para que Ortega los oiga (CST’ protest so Ortega will listen to them). El Nuevo Diario. July 16 of 2008.
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/imprimir/21553

 Leary, Virginia. The Paradox of Worker’s Rights as Human Rights, in Human Rights, Labor Rights and International Trade, pp. 22-47. 2003.

- The WTO and the Social Clause: Post Singapore. European Journal of International Law Vol. 8, No.1, pp: 118-122. 1997.

 Leary, Virginia & Warner Daniel. Social Issues, Globalisation and International Institutions: Labour Rights and the EU, ILO, OECD and WTO. Martinus Nijohff Publishers. 2006.

 Liu, Shao-hua. Activists allege labor violations. Taipe Times. December 2, 2000.

 Marschall, Cornelia. El Regimen de Zonas Francas en Nicaragua. Su significado para las aspiraciones de desarrollo nacional y de equidad de genero. Tesis Monográfica. Universidad Centroamericana UCA. Nicaragua, July of 1998. (The Regime of Free Zones in Nicaragua. Its significance for the aspirations of national development and gender equity. Thesis. Central American University UCA.)

 M&C Business. Taiwan, Nicaragua ratify free- trade agreement. October 11, 2007. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/business/news/article_1364486.php/Taiwan_Nicaragua_ratify_free-trade_agreement

 Movimiento Sindical Nicaragüense. Nicaragua: Declaración de Principios en torno al TLC con EEUU (Nicaragua: Declaration of Principles referring to the Free Trade Agreement with the United States). Asociación de Trabajadores del Campo. Septiembre del 2003.
http://www.movimientos.org/cloc/atc-ni/show_text.php3?key=1990

 National Free Zones Commission. Industrial Directory 2007. Printed by INPASA. Managua, Nicaragua. 2007.

- Memoria 2002/2006 (Yearbook 2002/2006).

- Impacto en la Economía Nacional (Impact on the national economy). http://www.cnzf.gob.ni/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=107&Itemid=140&lang=es

 National Labor Committee. Recent Updates and Alerts fro the Chentex Solidarity Campaign. (Reports from Taiwan Solidarity with Nicaraguan Workers (TSNW)). http://www.nlcnet.org/campaigns/archive/sweatingforkohls/history.shtml

 Nielsen, Jesper. Export Processing Zones or Free Zones – the experience seen from a trade union point of view. United Federation of Danish Workers. July of 2007.

 North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC) between the Government of Canada, the Government of the United Mexican States and the Government of the United States of America. September 13, 1993.

 Office of the United States Trade Representative. CAFTA’s Strong Protections for Labor Rights. A Comprehensive Strategy. February, 2005.
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Trade_Agreements/Regional/CAFTA/Briefing_Book/asset_upload_file652_7187.pdf

- Free Trade with Chile: Summary of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement. 2002.
http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Fact_Sheets/2002/Free_Trade_with_Chile_Summary_of_the_US-Chile_Free_Trade_Agreement.html

 Oppenheimer, Andres. Central America faces new test in Asia. Miami Herald. October 11, 2007.

 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). International Trade and Core Labour Standards. 2000.

 Perez, Francisco. Friends in Need. Taiwan Review. March 2002.

 Perrin, Andrew. Critics Accuse Taiwan of Operating Sweatshops. San Francisco Chronicle. August 15, 2001.

 Polasky, Sandra. Job Anxiety is Real and It’s Global. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. May, 2004.

 Potosme, Martha. Realidad Laboral en Nicaragua (Labor Reality in Nicaragua). COSEP. Volume 2, Pp:35-37. Edition March-April, 2008.

 ProNicaragua: Investment Promotion Agency (Website). Human Capital.
http://www.pronicaragua.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=87

 Rivas, Christian. Tratados y Acuerdos Comerciales Negociados por Nicaragua (Commercial Treaties and Agreements negotiated by Nicaragua). Ministry of Industry, Development and Commerce of Nicaragua. July 2006.

 Stokes, Bruce. Trade: Labor Loses in Central America. National Journal. Vol. 35, No.9. 2003.

 Suranovic, Steven. The Theory of Comparative Advantage. The International Economics Study Center. 2004.

 The Chippewa Herald. Groups allege Kohl’s uses sweatshops. August 22, 2000.

 The World Bank Group. Doing Business 2007. September 2006.

- Economies Perform Better in Coordinated Labor Markets. Press Release No: 2003/211/S. 2003.

 Trucchi, Giorgio. Las maquilas ¿son imprescindibles? (Maquilas, are they indispensable?) Radio La Primerisima. October 23, 2007.
http://www.radiolaprimerisima.com/noticias/20828

 United Nations: Department of Economic and Social Affairs. World Summit for Social Development. Copenhagen, 1995.
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/wssd/

 Vukelich, Donna. Bienvenidos a la Zona Franca (Welcome to the Free Trade Zone). Revista Envío, No. 144. December of 1993.

 Weeks, John. Have Workers in Latin America Gained from Liberalization and Regional Integration, in Critical Perspectives on Globalization and Neoliberalism in the Developing Countries. Pp.94-98 (in Richard L. Harris & Melinda J. Seid, eds., 2000).

 Weiss, Marley. Two Steps Forward, One Step Back- Or Vice Versa: Labor Rights Under Free Trade Agreements from NAFTA, Through Jordan, via Chile, to Latin America, and Beyond. University of San Francisco Law Review, Volume 37, No. 689. 2003.

 Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia (Website). Banana Republic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_republic

- Caribbean Basin Trade and Partnership Act. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Basin_Trade_and_Partnership_Act
- Central American Common Market. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_American_Common_Market
- Comparative Advantage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_advantage
- Uruguay Round. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguay_Round
 World Trade Organization. Singapore Ministerial Declaration. WT/MIN(96)/DEC. December, 1996.
http://www.wto.org/English/thewto_e/minist_e/min96_e/wtodec_e.htm

 Witness for Peace Newsletter. Nicaraguan Maquila Workers Victorious in Union Struggle. Volume 14, No. 1. Spring, 1997.