Labour Rights in Special Economic Zones: Between Unilateralism and Transnational Law Diffusion

ABSTRACT Special economic zones (SEZs) have spread rapidly over the past 20 years, including in many low- and middle-income countries keen to attract private investment for industrial development. But while much debate has focused on their performance success factors links with wider architecture of international law, there are enduring concerns respect labour rights SEZs. These partly rooted features legal regimes that underpin SEZs, such as arrangements qualify application ordinary or ineffective systems ensure compliance. This article discusses law governing drawing case studies Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya—three reflecting different generations SEZ legislation, types regulatory approaches. The explores complex interplay ‘unilateral’ regimes, structural affect possible ways forward research practice.