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state laws provide workers with greater protections than the applicable federal law the state law is not preempted or superseded by the federal law and workers are entitled to those greater rights and protections.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 Rhode Island, 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, wages, family and medical leave, and hours of work as established by laws such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). These laws align with some of the internationally recognized labor rights, including acceptable conditions of work, minimum wages, and occupational safety and health. Rhode Island state law complements these protections and may offer additional rights to workers. For instance, Rhode Island has its own regulations on minimum wage, overtime, and safety standards that may exceed federal requirements. If state laws provide greater protections than federal laws, the state laws apply, and workers in Rhode Island can claim these enhanced rights and protections. Additionally, Rhode Island supports the fundamental principles and rights at work as identified by the International Labor Organization (ILO), including the freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, and the elimination of forced labor, child labor, and discrimination in employment.