Originally published in 1980, this book examines a range of Government attitudes to their workers arguing that these provide the touchstone for all civil justice. The book looks at the United Nations system of Human Rights protection and the procedures of the International Labour Office (ILO) in implementing the international conventions which protect workers' rights. It also examines in detail the record of 9 countries where workers were seriously abused in the 1970s namely Chile, Czechoslovakia, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Palestine, the Soviet Union, Southern Africa, Tunisia and Uruguay.

James Avery Joyce was Distinguished Professor at Lambuth College and Senior Research Associate at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, USA.