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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-6373 ext. 4
Labor Secretary Alexis M. Herman and Mexican Secretary of Labor and
Social Welfare Mariano Palacios signed two agreements addressing five
submissions under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC),
the labor supplement to NAFTA. The two agreements provide for the U.S. and
Mexican governments to undertake a series of collaborative efforts to promote
the rights of workers under their respective labor laws.
"Our agreement to address these issues is a most important step
forward," said Secretary Herman. "I believe the programs we will jointly
undertake advance our efforts to improve the rights of workers in our
respective countries."
The first agreement resulted from ministerial consultations between the
U.S. and Mexico on two submissions filed with the U.S. National Administrative
Office (NAO) alleging lack of labor law enforcement in Mexico. The first
submission raised freedom of association and safety and health concerns
involving workers at the Han Young plant in Tijuana, Baja California. The
second submission involved alleged violations of freedom of association and
occupational safety and health laws at the Itapsa plant in Ciudad de los Reyes
in the State of Mexico.
Under this agreement, the Government of Mexico will hold a public
program in Tijuana to promote the principles of freedom of association and the
right to bargain collectively. Mexico also has agreed to conduct a trilateral
seminar to discuss law and practice governing Mexican Labor Boards, including
the rules and procedures to assure their impartiality. In addition, U.S. and
Mexican experts will participate in a government-to-government meeting
concerning the occupational safety and health issues raised in the two
submissions.
A second agreement addresses three submissions filed with the Mexican
NAO concerning labor law implementation in the United States. The issues focus
mainly on the legal protections for migrant workers, including freedom of
association, safety and health, workers' compensation, minimum employment
standards and employment discrimination. The three submissions alleged that
U.S. labor laws on some or all of these issues were not enforced at Solec,
Inc., a solar panel manufacturer, in Carson, Calif.; at the DeCoster Egg Farm
in Maine; and in the apple industry in the State of Washington.
Under this agreement, the U.S. Department of Labor will organize a
government-to-government meeting in Washington, D.C. to discuss the application
of U.S. law focusing on the issues raised in the three submissions. The United
States also will conduct public forums and outreach sessions, including in
Washington and Maine, with migrant workers, community groups, and government
officials regarding the issues raised in the Washington State and Maine cases.
The programs under both agreements are to be completed within 15 months.
The two labor secretaries concluded these agreements at the meeting of the
U.S.-Mexico Binational Commission held in Washington, D.C., on May 18.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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