ABSTRACT
It therefore seems logical to include a chapter on the development of international labour law in the present book, which purports to offer a panorama of business and human rights as a field of study. The development of international labour legislation is a clear early attempt by international law to protect rights against abuses committed by business, and it is still of great relevance today. International labour rights, however, may be viewed as distinct from human rights. With this in mind, the aim of this chapter is three-fold. First, it gives a
concise history of the development of international labour rights, so as to provide the historical background against which the contemporary business and human rights debates have evolved. Second, it seeks to clarify terminological questions around the notions of labour rights and human rights, as well as labour standards and labour principles. Setting clear definitions of these notions is important as the book further progresses towards present debates. Third, it contributes to a discussion on the contemporary relevance of international labour law and its relationship with business and human rights.
