The architecture of global labour governance

In their introduction to this Special Issue, the authors situate the architecture of global labour governance against the background of the challenges posed by globalization. Noting the limitations of a conventional governmental approach to labour governance, they suggest considering new “hybrid” regulatory modes and mechanisms, which involve a combination of public and private actors and initiatives alongside or instead of traditional international labour law. The authors conclude by examining possible explanations for the emergence of gaps in the enforcement of labour rights, looking in particular at the issues of labour‐standard “selectivity” and the stringency with which standards are enforced.