A joint report issued by the World Trade Organisation and the International Labour Organisation concludes that freer trade has not led to better work conditions in the developing world.

The report shows that the share of international trade in the world economy has now grown to more than 60 percent, more than double what it was in the 1980s. At the same time, the number of employees in the less secure informal economy has increased. These employees often work for low wages, have very little job security and cannot rely on social security if they lose their jobs.

Pascal Lamy, the head of the WTO, said free trade requires proper domestic policies if good jobs are to be created.

Photo of migrant workers by kurtrwall (flickr)