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state laws provide workers with greater protections than the applicable federal law the state law is not preempted or superseded by the federal law and workers are entitled to those greater rights and protections.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 Michigan, workers' rights are protected by a combination of federal law and state statutes. Federally, workers are entitled to minimum standards regarding occupational safety and health (OSHA), wages (Fair Labor Standards Act), family and medical leave (FMLA), and hours of work. Michigan law complements these protections and may offer additional rights to workers. For instance, Michigan's Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act governs minimum wage, which may exceed the federal minimum wage. The state also has its own regulations regarding occupational safety and health under the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA). Michigan supports the ILO's fundamental principles by allowing freedom of association and collective bargaining, prohibiting forced or compulsory labor, child labor, and discrimination in employment. When Michigan's laws provide greater protections than federal laws, the state laws apply, granting workers the higher standard of rights and protections. It's important for workers to understand both federal and state laws to know their full rights and for employers to comply with the more stringent regulations to ensure legal adherence.