International Standards on Labor

The international community has established several that are seen as key for deployment of equity, safety, and improvement within the workforce and work environment. Several aspects of the International Labor Standards (ILS) include provision for health of the employee, working environment in regards to pollution, noise, and vibrations, protection from discrimination within employment and even provisions for women with familial obligation.
Women are often responsible for the caring of both the elderly and young, making their financial contribution to the family vital. The physical contribution in caring for others is essential as well, so when a woman experiences great health risks within her working environment such as those experienced daily by Maquila workers, it has the potential to effect the entire family.
Discrimination, as defined in the ILS documents is “any distinction, exclusion or preference made on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction, or social origin, which ahs the effect of nullifying or impairing equality of opportunity or treatment in employment or occupation.”

Some areas of concern for prevention of discrimination include equal opportunities for training, equity of treatment within the workforce, and discouraging practices of existing discrimination.
The ILS even has rigorous provisions for the treatment of indigenous workers, migrant workers, dockworkers, even for fisherman. A notable exclusion within provision is for the treatment of women workers, as is the example in Maquiladoras across Mexico, there is stark difference in treatment and advance of women than men within the factories. Exclusion of women as a category of concern as an employee is significant as women are at particular risk within the workplace.

Women, even in some of the most developed countries, are often behind men in both training and advancement opportunities as well as monetary compensation. While according to the very definition proposed within the ILS documents this is clear discrimination, little is said within in the International community as ways of correcting the situation.