Preventing exploitation and harm

This chapter focuses on preventing exploitation and harm. The most prominent solution concerns the establishment of legal baselines through national and international conventions, codes and laws. In many countries, these are then used as the basis for labour inspection and enforcement regimes. Although a central component in the fight against exploitation and harm, this ‘baseline’ approach only goes so far. Most obviously, it is clear that there is a ‘justice gap’ between de jure protection and the levels of exploitation and harm actually experienced by workers. To address this, the chapter argues that we must look at alternative solutions. It is clear, for instance, that the form of capitalism in operation can dramatically shape workers’ experiences. Other than looking at capitalism, one can also look to the power (im)balance between labour and capital as a cause of, and solution to, exploitation and harm. The role of trade unions, the level of income inequality between workers, and the ability of workers to peacefully protest, are all important markers in this respect.