There is no single definition or definitive list of workers’ rights. The International Labor Organization (ILO) identifies what it calls “fundamental principles and rights at work” that all ILO Members have an obligation to respect and promote, which are:

• freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;

• elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor;

• effective abolition of child labor; and

• elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

The ILO has adopted—and supervises the application of—international labor conventions in each of these areas. Other important ILO standards deal with conditions of work, including occupational safety and health, wages, and hours of work, but these standards are not considered fundamental or core conventions.

United States trade law adds acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health to that list, calling them “internationally recognized labor rights.”

In the United States, federal law provides minimum standards or rights for workers regarding occupational safety and health, wages, family and medical leave, and hours of work. And many states have laws that protect workers as well. When state laws provide workers with greater protections than the applicable federal law the state law is not preempted or superseded by the federal law and workers are entitled to those greater rights and protections.

In Louisiana (LA), workers' rights are governed by a combination of federal and state laws. Federally, the rights outlined by the International Labor Organization (ILO) are supported by various U.S. laws and regulations. These include the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which protects the freedom of association and collective bargaining; the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which sets minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor standards; and laws like the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) for workplace safety. Additionally, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination. Louisiana state laws complement these federal protections and may offer additional rights to workers. For instance, Louisiana has its own regulations on occupational safety and health under the Louisiana Workforce Commission. When Louisiana state laws provide greater protections than federal laws, workers in the state are entitled to these more substantial rights and protections. It's important to note that while the ILO's core conventions set international standards, adherence to these standards is reflected in the specific laws and regulations enacted at both the federal and state levels in the U.S.