Legal Aspects of Remuneration for Workers - Living Wage: International Law, Experience and the Case of Vietnam

Abstract: The right to a living wage is the right to living a life of dignity with a condition deemed acceptable by the society which adherents to everyone who works. Analysing the international law system, where right to a living wage is deeply rooted, it has not explicitly regulated and become an obstacle for its full realisation, despite being an ultimate goal of international labour standard on wages. What is living wage and its difference with minimum wage? and how does the international legal system offer its protection on the matter? Within both hard law and soft law instruments, the obligations to respect and protect the right to fair and adequate living wage shall be examined for all stakeholders. In addition, a case of Vietnam shall highlight the complexity of living wage demand in the national context of a developing country. The thesis shall be elaborate on such initiatives, arguing that living wage is the next level of development after a minimum wage.