Labour standards include a clearly defined system of norms and rules regulating the organisation of work in various sectors of the economy and society. Despite their regulation and the existence of international conventions and national regulations, these standards are often violated. The intersection between labour rights and human rights is often misunderstood by employers who think that by complying with labor laws they have covered the requirements for respecting human rights.
Labour standards address specific aspects of workers’ rights while the business and human rights framework encompasses the broader impact of business activities on all human rights. The International Labour Organisation promotes labour rights as human rights which is also included in the Sustainable Development Goals. The standards outlined in the organisation’s conventions provide additional protection for human dignity, economic security, health, equality, and freedom. Without this protection, there is a risk of exploitation, discrimination, and hazardous working conditions that jeopardize the enjoyment of human rights.
In some industries, the risks of labour rights violations are higher such as unsafe working conditions in the textile industry; lack of labor contracts in agriculture; wage theft in tourism and construction; poor working conditions, and forced labor in electronics and technology manufacturing. In the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, the most common human rights violations by businesses are violations of workers’ rights, forced labor, child labor, restrictions on the right to freedom of association, minimum wage, gender-based discrimination, pay gap, and sexual harassment in the workplace.
In Bulgaria, the main risks include the increased rate of workplace accidents; assigning duties outside job descriptions; lack of medical care, or lack of workwear and protective equipment. There is also an increase in rights violations in remote work, as well as increased demands for the completion of work-related tasks beyond the end of the workday. Therefore, there are proposals in the EU for a “right to disconnect,” aiming to achieve a balance between personal and professional life, reduce burnout, and improve practices and policies in companies related to communication management and sending emails after the close of the workday. Workplace harassment issues are also increasing, affecting women working from home who often become victims of online violence and harassment. Specific examples show that the changing work environment requires employers to become more adaptable to the changing working environment. Human rights risks are not only faced by employees but also in supply chains and the community. One of the solutions for companies is to engage better with stakeholders.
