Enforcing transnational labour law in local contexts

The chapter investigates sociology of law perspective, ­contemporary ­challenges and potential solutions to the local enforcement of safety and health standards formulated by the International Labour Organization. It analyses how occupational safety and health (OSH) norms are promoted by local labour inspectors in Prato, a small city in Northern Italy with a total population of 191,424 inhabitants. The chapter presents the Italian labour inspection system with emphasis on defining the local labour inspector as a specific type of legal actor that promotes a culture of prevention when it comes to OSH. It also analyses three specific tools developed by local labour inspectors to promote the benefits of labour law compliance to Chinese firms in Prato: video campaigning, distribution of guidelines and the offer of consultancy. The chapter discusses the purposive strategies of local labour inspectors as examples of recent attempts to shape the legitimacy of transnational norms within the field of labour law.