Stirling Smith

Stirling was active in trade union education in the UK before working in India as a Chief Technical Adviser for the International Labour Organisation. He has worked for DFID, British Council, Fair Labour Association, trade unions, NGOs and several companies. His areas of expertise include child labour, HIV/AIDS in the workplace, migrant labour, social dialogue and industrial relations, health and safety at work and co-operatives.

Blog posts from this author

Waterloo led to plans for model workplaces

Waterloo and ethical trade

14 June 2015

Stirling Smith finds that 1815, and the peace brought about by Waterloo, was a great year for ethical trade with plans developed for model workplaces.

Young female trainee leather workers in a factory, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Two years of working for safety in Bangladesh

5 June 2015

The Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety is two years old. Stirling Smith examines its achievements.

Construction site, India

Two paths for labour law in India

19 May 2015

If you source from India, keep an eye on labour law changes. Stirling Smith wonders which way India will go.

Sunlight soap factory, 1897. Photo: English Heritage

A glimpse into the history of ethical trade

13 May 2015

Stirling Smith digs into the archives and finds that the campaign for ethical trade was very active a century ago.

Women organising for workers' rights, Tanzania

Why DO workers join trade unions?

7 February 2015

Stirling Smith looks at some new data on why workers join trade unions and shows how unions benefit business.

A Christmas riddle

10 December 2014

Stirling Smith is puzzled that companies don’t want to save money, and makes you an offer you can’t refuse.

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