The increased pace of globalization has created pressures at home and abroad to ensure that all countries which engage in international commerce respect the basic rights of workers. With the rapid growth of international trade, the deepening connection between capital and labor, and heightening of worldwide market competition, labor issues have become a fundamental concern of all international trade agreements negotiated by the U.S. government.

In order to fulfill the research and reporting requirements of the Trade Act of 2002, OFR's corps of Area Advisors and International Labor Rights Specialists research and report on workforce developments, policy initiatives, labor law reform efforts, and working conditions in countries around the world. As required by the Trade Act, this information is integrated into “Meaningful Labor Rights Reports” on each country in which the United States negotiates a trade agreement under the Trade Act. The information is also used to assist in the development of international labor policy, as well as in the programming and design of OFR’s international cooperation efforts.