World Bank's vision of the changing nature of work clashes with the feminist community, civil society, trade unions and international organisations.
Labour
Rights
Analysis
The IMF, Gender Equality and Labour
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.
Rights
News
Workers unite after IFC fails to comply with its labour standard
Malaysian workers certify union of choice despite efforts of IFC-backed company.
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
Featured briefings
15 August 2019
The World Bank and gender equality: Development Policy Financing
New BWP briefing offers critical gender analysis of World Bank lending instrument to borrowing countries.
30 July 2019
The Bretton Woods Observer: Summer 2019
30 July 2019
The Bretton Woods Institutions and the second crisis of multilateralism
At 75, the World Bank and IMF face a crisis of multilateralism in no small part of their own making as failed economic policies have resulted in skepticism of the international order they helped to create.