Many governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations want to know how engagement with global supply chains (GSCs) can help national and local economies and communities grow in a sustainable and inclusive manner, promote jobs and contribute to realizing decent work for all. In June 2016, the three constituents will come together at the International Labour Conference (ILC) to have a general discussion about decent work in GSCs. As input into the ILC discussion in 2016, the International Labour Office (ILO) conducted, with the support of the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, studies of economic and social upgrading in global supply chains in four different sectors of the economy: animation/visual effects (VFX), electronics, gold and retail. These four sectors were selected for their diversity to provide insight into general trends across the global economy. A comparison of the four sectors helps to understand the social and the economic implications of supply chains within the context of the changing global economy and to identify potential areas for future work. In addition, it contributes to promoting decent work in GSCs through expanding and disseminating knowledge about strategies to improve working conditions as well as productivity and competitiveness in different sectors of the global economy. The analysis carried out under this project will help inform the 2016 discussion and feed into the preparations and possible follow-up to the ILC discussion.

A comparative analysis of economic and social upgrading in the animation, electronics, gold and retail sectors ...1 STUDY 1: Promoting Decent Work in Global Retail Supply Chains: Food and Apparel ...7 Executive summary...........................................................................................10 Abbreviations and acronyms.............................................................................11 1. The commerce sector and global supply chains................................................12 2. Global supply chains in commerce, and economic and social upgrading...........15 3. Implications of retail commerce GSCs for decent work......................................23 4. Commerce GSCs and decent work: Responses and initiatives..........................31 5. Towards good governance in commerce GSCs: Concluding remarks and recommendations ...40 Bibliography......................................................................................................45 STUDY 2: Promoting Decent Work in Global Supply Chains: The Gold Industry ...49 Executive summary ...51 Abbreviations and acronyms ...53 1. Introduction ...54 2. Economic and social upgrading and downgrading in the gold mining supply chain ...57 3. Governance for decent work in the gold supply chain ...69 4. Conclusion ...78 Bibliography ...81 STUDY 3: Promoting Decent Work in Global Supply Chains: The Animation/VFX Industry ...89 Executive summary ...92 Abbreviations and acronyms ...93 1. Introduction and overview of the animation/VFX industry ...94 2. Economic and social upgrading and downgrading ...100 3. Governance in the animation/VFX global supply chain ...113 4. Conclusions ...117 Bibliography ...119 STUDY 4: Promoting Decent Work in Global Supply Chains: The Electronics Industry ...125 Executive summary ...128 Abbreviations and acronyms ...130 1. Introduction ...131 2. Violations of labour standards and poor labour conditions ...140 3. Economic and social upgrading and downgrading ...146 4. Governance for decent work in the electronics industry global supply chain ...152 5. Conclusion ...160 Bibliography ...164