NationStates Jolt Archive

Hi! I recently created a new proposal, and I though you might want to look at it, give me suggestions, etc. Don't get mad at me if I did something wrong, I'm new at this.

It's Social Justice/Strong


We, the people and government of The Dominion of The Vishbar, submit the following proposal:

AWARE of the rampant abuses of workers and laborors,

ACKNOWLEDGING the rights of workers to a safe and clean working environment,

REALIZING that worker exploitation helps to increase the income gap and keep poorer citizens down,

The United Nations,

1) ESTABLISHES the International Labor Rights Office (ILRO) that would make decisions on topics relating to labor rights;

2) REINFORCES the need for minimum wage laws in each and every UN member nation;

3) REQUESTS that the IOLR appoint regional directors, who would in turn conduct inspections of businesses to assure that the working environment is clean and safe;

4) INSISTS that the IOLR punish businesses that refuse to comply with their labor regulations with heavy fines;

5) REQUIRES that businesses pay their workers in the currency of the nation that they are located in rather than "tokens" or other such items used to buy supplies at a store run by the company;

6) SUGGESTS that the IOLR meet yearly to review their labor restrictions and update minimum wages for inflation.

I am not certain you can form UN standing bodys in the way you are suggesting. But please don't take my word for it, as I am fairly new to this myself :}

The rest of it sounds fine, and something I would be happy to support if it comes to the floor.

Hi! I recently created a new proposal, and I though you might want to look at it, give me suggestions, etc. Don't get mad at me if I did something wrong, I'm new at this.

It's Social Justice/Strong

Grrr. If this passes, I better at least get an increase in Civil Rights.

*walks off grumbling*

I am not certain you can form UN standing bodys in the way you are suggesting. But please don't take my word for it, as I am fairly new to this myself :}

I am by no means an expert (I did Model United Nations this year and last), but I'm pretty sure that in the real UN, you are allowed to create standing bodies (or at least bodies that would be controlled by the UN). I don't recall a rule against it in any of the NSUN rules.

Don't take any of this personally. I deal with a hundred bad proposals a day and being evil has evolved to become quite effective.

We, the people and government of The Dominion of The Vishbar, submit the following proposal:

AWARE of the rampant abuses of workers and laborors,

I would suggest adding examples. It strikes a person's heart even more to hear of the abuses.

ACKNOWLEDGING the rights of workers to a safe and clean working environment,

That depends on the environment. An office building, this is enforceable. A garbage dump is obviously not.

REALIZING that worker exploitation helps to increase the income gap and keep poorer citizens down,

That's actually a problem even in capitalist states that try to help their workers. Not much you can do about it.

The United Nations,

1) ESTABLISHES the International Labor Rights Office (ILRO) that would make decisions on topics relating to labor rights;

You need a set of legislation for how this is to operate, how to get membership in it, who is elligable to be in it, and procedures it will have in order to enforce this and other proposals. I noticed some of that is in here, but not enough.

2) REINFORCES the need for minimum wage laws in each and every UN member nation;

This is already covered in a previous resolution. A reference to it may be helpful, but it is unneccessary.

3) REQUESTS that the IOLR appoint regional directors, who would in turn conduct inspections of businesses to assure that the working environment is clean and safe;

This sends up a red flag for me. That can only be done in UN nations, and those are only about a third of the nations on NS. Trying to force them to comply will result in open war or you simply being laughed at and ignored.

4) INSISTS that the IOLR punish businesses that refuse to comply with their labor regulations with heavy fines;

You need regulations on what counts as a heavy fine and procedures for repeat offenders.

5) REQUIRES that businesses pay their workers in the currency of the nation that they are located in rather than "tokens" or other such items used to buy supplies at a store run by the company;

For some nations, including my own, the tokens and the native currency are the same. Plus, I think this was covered by a past resolution.

6) SUGGESTS that the IOLR meet yearly to review their labor restrictions and update minimum wages for inflation.

I would advise against this and advise you to remove it. Inflation is a local thing. Each country has differing rates of inflation or deflation and you would have a huge hassle examining each country to set their minimum wage. Plus, not all will be receptive of the idea.

I am by no means an expert (I did Model United Nations this year and last), but I'm pretty sure that in the real UN, you are allowed to create standing bodies (or at least bodies that would be controlled by the UN). I don't recall a rule against it in any of the NSUN rules.

(grin) As several people have pointed out in recent threads, the NSUN doesn't run like the normal UN. So I really would try to find out before you carry on with it.

Have you explored the rest of the forums? There is a moderator forum in another section - they might be able to help. Or, if this thread is up long enough, someone who knows the NSUN a lot better than I do will stumble over it and be able to tell you.

I am not suggesting for a moment that you can't do this, but, from personal experience, it is easier to find out before you get too involved in the writing and submitting of something.

(grin) As several people have pointed out in recent threads, the NSUN doesn't run like the normal UN. So I really would try to find out before you carry on with it.

Have you explored the rest of the forums? There is a moderator forum in another section - they might be able to help. Or, if this thread is up long enough, someone who knows the NSUN a lot better than I do will stumble over it and be able to tell you.

I am not suggesting for a moment that you can't do this, but, from personal experience, it is easier to find out before you get too involved in the writing and submitting of something.

As far as I know, you are allowed to create standing bodies. For example, the International Red Cross Organization (IRCO), and the United Nations Space Consortium (UNSC) were both passed, and apparently legal.

(grin) As several people have pointed out in recent threads, the NSUN doesn't run like the normal UN. So I really would try to find out before you carry on with it.

Have you explored the rest of the forums? There is a moderator forum in another section - they might be able to help. Or, if this thread is up long enough, someone who knows the NSUN a lot better than I do will stumble over it and be able to tell you.

I am not suggesting for a moment that you can't do this, but, from personal experience, it is easier to find out before you get too involved in the writing and submitting of something.

In my experience, as Sarkaraseta back in 03 and now with the owner of Tiamat Taveril giving me their nation (I'm a UN member again!), it's legal.

As far as I know, you are allowed to create standing bodies. For example, the International Red Cross Organization (IRCO), and the United Nations Space Consortium (UNSC) were both passed, and apparently legal.

Wow. That is good to know. (It is a topic that interests me given the whole genocide thing I have going on).



(Yeah - that sounded better when I thought it. Ooops!)

AWARE of the rampant abuses of workers and laborors,

ACKNOWLEDGING the rights of workers to a safe and clean working environment,

REALIZING that worker exploitation helps to increase the income gap and keep poorer citizens down,

Pretty good. The key here is to make the arguments transparent and seamless. To make this even clearer you might want to introduce your "worker's rights" ACKNOWLEGDGEMENT, first and a little more inclsive of what you're getting at. This seems to be the main reason you're submitting the proposal so make sure this clause includes all the rights you want to protect.

You might also want to make your AWARE of violations clause second, as there must be granted rights before a violation of those rights can be present (just the logical path the brain follows). Anyway, this would make the AWARE clause into more of this:

ACKNOWLEDGING other forms of worker exploitation rampant in workplaces including but not limited to...(list three examples of worker exploitation)

And put together this would make the establishing clauses as this:


ACKNOWLEDGING the rights of workers to (list rights being protected),

ACKNOWLEDGING other forms of worker exploitation rampant in workplaces including but not limited to...(list three examples of worker exploitation)

REALIZING that worker exploitation helps to increase the income gap and keep poorer citizens down,

Feel free to change the capitalized words at discretion. In fact, feel free to totally pay no attention to my suggestion. That's why it's just a suggestion.

We, the people and government of The Dominion of The Vishbar, submit the following proposal:

AWARE of the rampant abuses of workers and laborors,I would suggest adding examples. It strikes a person's heart even more to hear of the abuses.

Many members feel resolutions, encoded into law--most often permanently, need to be fairly unattached to time and circumstance. In order to emphasize the 'timeless principles' in this legislation, you should be as vague as possible in any examples added. I have though, to emphasize DemonLordEnigma's point, found it effective to include stories and persuasive elements in telegrams sent to delegates. Stay on message, be clear, and an applicable story or two couldn't hurt.


1) ESTABLISHES the International Labor Rights Office (ILRO) that would make decisions on topics relating to labor rights;

I like this idea. More support will be given if there's a dynamic process of decision (my elaborate way of saying "a committee") that could adapt ideas to future needs, rather than all decision made thus far.

As far as making bodies in UN resolutions, you might want to look at the UNEC and talk to Hersfold, the author. The UNEC established the UN Education Committee (I think), and it was fully embraced as a resolution. As were the UNSC and the IRCO.

I might suggest that you add that the directive of the ILRO is to secure rights of workers. Just an office to make decisions doesn't quite move things the way, an office to protect people does. Anyway, I think this is a good idea.


2) REINFORCES the need for minimum wage laws in each and every UN member nation;

3) REQUESTS that the IOLR appoint regional directors, who would in turn conduct inspections of businesses to assure that the working environment is clean and safe;


Good use of language. Reinforcing and Requesting is the right call here. This won't make more libertarian nations feel threatened.


4) INSISTS that the IOLR punish businesses that refuse to comply with their labor regulations with heavy fines;


Way to pick your battles. It's definitely stronger to INSIST this than to INSIST 2) and 3).

5) REQUIRES that businesses pay their workers in the currency of the nation that they are located in rather than "tokens" or other such items used to buy supplies at a store run by the company;

I understand the ideas behind this, allowing workers not have lives dominated by a company. I'm glad you make it specific. If it's to vague it can cause more problem than solutions. You might want to consider expanding it to include more specificism or to include the reason or right this is protecting.

Such as this:

REQUIRES that businesses pay their workers in the currency of the nation that they are located in rather than "tokens" or other such items used to buy supplies [only] at a store run by the company [repressing the choices of the workers];

Just a suggestion, it might not be a good idea. But I think it's worth consideration.

I think your last point is also well measured as a "suggestion".

You should investigate the previous resolutions which pass bodies (such as UNEC, UNSC, IRCO, etc.) and see if there are points you can implement here. I think the idea and the writing is good. This is pretty well balanced and probably agreeable to most UN members. Good work!

The UNSC architects are still around and very active at the Texas Regional forum and you can also get a hold of them at the United Nations Organizations forum:

http://s3.invisionfree.com/UN_Organizations/index.php

Hersfold is very active in Part 123 (the region) and can be found on many of the Pacific forums, and would be happy to talk about the UNEC. Speaking of which, it would be nice to role the UNEC into the UNO umbrella or at least use the UNO to point to the UNEC.

4) INSISTS that the IOLR punish businesses that refuse to comply with their labor regulations with heavy fines;

Um, no. I'm not letting an international organization micromanage my business regulation. The UN as a whole should debate and vote on each particular regulation, not give the power to a few. This is just asking for abuse and arbitrariness.

Don't let the IOLR make rules.

Um, no. I'm not letting an international organization micromanage my business regulation. The UN as a whole should debate and vote on each particular regulation, not give the power to a few. This is just asking for abuse and arbitrariness.

Don't let the IOLR make rules.

I agree, but let's take it a step farther. Don't let the U.N. make rules.

I agree that we do need protection of worker's rights and like your general aims, however I think that making rules should largely be left up to the UN assembly. I don't want big decisions being made by other bodies, I think they should be made by proposal/resolution votes.

I have a point regarding clause 5 - I'm not sure this can work in nations where the market is totally monopolised (either where it's all state sector, or by one giant corporation that all but owns the nation). Finally, given that you refer to businesses rather than employers, can this text protect workers in the state sector?

In regards to UN standing bodies: whatever you do, don't put anything in the proposal about requiring it to be done through the NS forums. That's what got the Olympic proposal sunk, after it had already reached quorum.