Skip to main content

Worker Power in Supply Chains: The ITF 'Economic Employer' Strategy

Report Published 26 May 2021

Where is power in a supply chain? Deregulation, privatisation and subcontracting mean that power is increasingly at the top. 

In freight transport, corporate customers at the top of supply chains (economic employers) set the price of the subcontracted transport of their goods. Deregulation and poor enforcement of labour protections mean that subcontractors compete on price. Lower transport prices mean lower health, safety, conditions and wages for workers.

Related Resources

Resources 28 Nov 2023

Just transition for transport pledge

On the eve of COP28, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), respectively representing over 3.5 million road transport operators and 18