What are the MAI Negotiators doing to address labour and environmental concerns?
The MAI is consistent with policies on labour standards and environmental protection and preservation and there is broad support for integrating labour and environmental considerations into the Agreement. The MAI will not interfere with the freedom of governments to implement their own policies concerning labour and environmental standards as long as these standards are not more stringent for foreign investors than for domestic investors. In addition, the Agreement is likely to specifically call on MAI countries not to lower labour and environmental standards in order to attract foreign investment. There is also broad support for associating the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises with the MAI. The Guidelines, which are recommendations by OECD Governments to multinational enterprises operating in their territory, include specific recommendations on labour and environmental issues.
