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state laws provide workers with greater protections than the applicable federal law the state law is not preempted or superseded by the federal law and workers are entitled to those greater rights and protections.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 Mississippi, workers' rights are governed by a combination of federal law and state statutes. Federal law sets minimum standards for occupational safety and health (OSHA), wages (Fair Labor Standards Act), family and medical leave (FMLA), and hours of work. Mississippi law may offer additional protections, and when state laws are more protective than federal laws, workers in Mississippi are entitled to these greater rights. For instance, Mississippi adheres to the federal minimum wage but does not have a state-specific minimum wage law. The state also follows federal standards for overtime pay. Mississippi does not have a state law regarding family and medical leave, so the federal FMLA applies. Regarding the ILO's fundamental principles, the U.S. is an ILO member and is committed to promoting these principles, which include freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of forced labor and child labor, and non-discrimination in employment. While Mississippi does not have specific statutes addressing all of these principles, they are generally upheld under various federal laws and regulations. Workers in Mississippi who believe their rights have been violated may seek recourse through state or federal agencies, or by consulting with an attorney to discuss their specific situation.