BWP briefing explores IMF's labour market policies in the context of women in the informal economy and suggests they will not contribute to decreasing inequalities.
Labour
Rights
News
Labour in Greece: With friends like the IMF…
IMF agrees to conditional participation in new Greek loan package and demands that the government maintains the suspension of collective bargaining despite rising inequality and decrease in wages.
Rights
News
World Bank approves Uzbekistan cotton project despite forced labour concerns
World Bank approves new $145 million irrigation project in Uzbekistan, despite ongoing concerns about forced and child labour in the country's cotton sector.
Rights
News
Complaint lodged for forced labour in IFC-funded project in Uzbekistan
Forced labour victim and human rights defenders have filed a complaint with CAO, alleging that IFC knowingly finances a company benefiting from forced labour.
Rights
News
IMF conditions weaken labour rights, World Bank labour policy inconsistent
March IMF policy paper advocates liberalisation and lowering of labour market protections although makes case for stimulus when there is 'available fiscal space'. World Bank displays inconsistent labour policy implementation. IMF U-turn on advice regarding Germany’s introduction of minimum wage.
Rights
News
IMF and World Bank labour policies criticised by UN expert
The UN expert on foreign debt has published a report critical of IMF and World Bank policies related to labour rights, claiming that the evidence does not support their pproach.
Rights
News
Renewed calls for World Bank to suspend funding for Uzbekistan
Civil society organisations have renewed their calls for the World Bank to suspend funding to Uzbekistan, due to continued concerns about forced and child labour in the cotton harvest.
Rights
Background
UK civil society meeting with Minister of State Desmond Swayne
Notes from a meeting on 7 September 2015 between the Minister of State of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and civil society representatives, focusing on the World Bank's safeguards review.
Conditionality
Analysis
IMF policy in the MENA region: Lessons unlearnt
New report reveals IMF policy in the MENA region has remained unchanged after the 2011 Arab uprising, despite its rhetoric for change towards inclusive growth.
Rights
Analysis
The IMF’s chameleon-policies on unions are changing colours
New IMF research has shown the positive impact of trade unions have on reducing income inequality, however, the Fund's own European austerity programmes indicate that the IMF ignores its own evidence.
Featured briefings
3 October 2018
World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings 2018
28 September 2018
The World Bank's role in crafting a neoliberal hegemony with a feminist face
The World Bank’s recent gender equality approach constitutes an attempt at establishing a consensus over the regulation of the economy.
25 September 2018