《INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONVENTIONS AND NATIONAL LAW》

Introduction1

CHAPTER 1. Labour Conventions and National Law6

1. The Norms of ILO Conventions7

2. Obligations of States Ratifying ILO Conventions9

3. International Legislation? Model National Laws? Treaties?11

4. Ratification of Labour Conventions13

5. Conclusion13

CHAPTER 2. The ILO Supervisory System and Problems of Auto-matic Incorporation17

1. The ILO Supervisory System17

2. Development of Supervisory Committees' Concern Regarding Automatic Incorporation20

3. States Invoking Automatic Incorporation as Guaranteeing Con-vention Implementation25

3.1. Mexico25

3.2. Colombia26

3.3. Guatemala28

3.4. Argentina29

4. States Rarely Invoking Automatic Incorporation as Guaran-teeing Convention Implementation29

4.1. France29

4.2. The Netherlands30

4.3. Switzerland30

5. Conclusion31

CHAPTER 3. Elements of Automatic Incorporation35

1. Status (Force of Law) of Treaties in National Legal Systems:Automatic Incorporation and Legislative Incorporation35

2. Direct Application of Treaty Provisions (The "Self-Executing" Problem)38

3. The Rank or Hierarchy of Treaty Provisions40

4. Conclusion41

CHAPTER 4. The System of Automatic Incorporation in Selected States44

1. Constitutional Provisions for Automatic Incorporation44

1.1. The United States, Argentina and Mexico (Federal States with Similar Constitutional Provisions)44

1.2. France47

1.3. The Netherlands48

2. AutomaticIncorporation Without Express Constitutional Provisions49

2.1. Switzerland49

2.2. Italy (Quasi-Automatic Incorporation)49

3. Conclusion50

CHAPTER 5. The Concept of Self-Executing Treaty Provisions54

1. The Doctrine of Self-Executing Treaty Provisions in the Law of the United States55

1.1. Origin of the Doctrine55

1.2. Definition of Self-Executing Treaty Provisions56

1.3. Criteria for Determination57

1.3.1. Intention of the Parties57

1.3.2. Precision and Detail of Language58

1.3.3. Subject Matter as Criterion—Separation of Powers Question60

1.4. Confusion Regarding the Doctrine63

2. The Concept of Self-Executing Treaties in Other Automatic Incorporation States65

2.1. The Netherlands65

2.2. Switzerland68

2.3. France68

2.4. Italy69

2.5. Argentina and Mexico70

3. Conclusion70

CHAPTER 6. National Courts and the Self-Executing Nature of ILO Convention Provisions77

1. United States—The Warren Case77

2. Argentina82

2.1. The Haras "Los Cardos" Case82

2.2. The Roa Case87

3. France88

3.1. The Klaiss Case88

3.2. The Castanie Case90

3.3. The Compan-Vaquer Case91

4. Conclusion92

CHAPTER 7. ILO Supervision and the Self-Executing Nature of Convention Provisions96

1. Non-Self-Executing Provisions of ILO Conventions96

2. U.S. Inquiry to ILO98

3. The ILO and Mexico: Efforts to Clarify the Problem of Self-Executing Convention Provisions101

4. Language as Indicating Self-Executing Nature of Convention Provisions105

5. Conclusion112

CHAPTER 8. Relative Rank of Labour Conventions and Con-flicting National Norms116

1. Preliminary Note: Separation of Powers Question—Efforts to Reconcile Conflicting Treaties and Laws116

2. National Legal Systems and the Relative Rank of Treaty Pro-visions and National Norms117

2.1. Primacy Given to National Laws if Later in Time118

2.1.1. United States118

2.1.2. Argentina119

2.1.3. Mexico120

2.1.4. Italy120

2.2. Primacy (in Principle) Given to Treaty Norms120

2.2.1. France120

2.2.2. Switzerland122

2.2.3. The Netherlands123

3. ILO Conventions and Conflicting National Norms124

3.1. Conflict with National Constitution124

3.2. Convention Norms in Conflict with Earlier Laws125

3.3. Convention Norms in Conflict with Subsequent Laws127

4. Conclusion132

CHAPTER 9. Practical Problems in Effective Application of ILO Conventions137

1. ILO Concern about Practical Application of Conventions137

2. Judicial Decisions and Uncertainty Concerning Status of Con-ventions139

3. Need for Express Repeal of Earlier Conflicting Legislation142

4. Special Publication of ILO Conventions146

5. Conclusion148

CHAPTER 10. Beyond Labour Conventions: Reflections on the Wider Relevance of the ILO Experience150

1. Interaction between International Law and National Law: Signi-ficance of ILO Experience150

2. Conclusions Concerning Incorporation of ILO Conventions in National Law152

2.1. Where the Twain Meet: Importance of ILO Supervisory Organs in Harmonizing International Conventional Law and National Law152

2.2. Is the Technique of Legislative Incorporation Preferable to Automatic Incorporation?154

3. Relevance of the ILO Experience for the Future Application of Human Rights Treaties161

4. Improving the National Application of Treaties163

4.1. Why National Judges Are Reluctant to Directly Apply Treaties163

4.2. Is Theory Important?164

4.2.1. The Monist-Dualist Controversy Revisited165

4.2.2. The McDougal Approach166

4.3. Need for Improved Understanding of the Problem at the International Level167

Bibliography171

Table of Cases181

Table of Treaties and Conventions183

Author Index185

Index187