Also on the practicalities do the views differ a great deal. However, there is general agreement that everyone has the right to free trade union activities, and that child labour as well as forced labour need to be banned. It is meant as a contribution to the debate. This is the fundamental question that has to be persistently asked. Increase of capital and economic growth are not an end in themselves, but means to achieve a goal.
All human beings have basic needs to live, grow and develop.
The goal of the economy is to serve life, which means enable decent development all over the world. Human rights are the basis of human development The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a yardstick to judge whether development follows human principles. Economic development and world trade have to be measured according to this yardstick. When undertaking an economic initiative, the question has to be asked whether human development and the respect for human rights are promoted or obstructed. Coherence is a criterion of social ethics Human actions are never without contradictions.