This submission was filed on July 3, 2000, by the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras, current and former workers, and 22 other unions and non-governmental organizations. The submission raises concerns about occupational safety and health and compensation in cases of occupational injuries and illnesses at Auto Trim of Mexico in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, and at Custom Trim/Breed Mexicana at Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas. The U.S. NAO accepted the submission for review on September 1, 2000. A public hearing was conducted in San Antonio, TX on December 12, 2000 and a site visit was conducted January 22-24, 2001 during which a team composed of NAO staff and industrial hygienists visited the Breed facilities and met with workers.
The NAO issued its Public Report of Review on April 6, 2001, recommending ministerial-level consultations. The U.S. Secretary of Labor formally requested ministerial consultations on June 25, 2001. The Mexican Secretary of Labor formally accepted the request for ministerial consultations on July 24, 2001.
Consistent with the Ministerial Consultations Joint Declaration signed June 11, 2002 by Secretaries Chao and Abascal, the U.S. and Mexico will address the issues raised in Submission 2000-01, through the establishment of a bilateral working group of government experts on occupational safety and health issues, who are to be tasked with discussion and review of issues raised in the public communications, the formulation of technical recommendations for consideration by governments, the development and evaluation of technical cooperation projects on occupational safety and health for improving occupational safety and health in the workplace, and the identification of other occupational safety and health issues appropriate for bilateral collaboration. Cooperative activities may emphasize, among other things, best practices in the prevention of occupational injuries and illnesses specifically related to handling hazardous substances, labor-management cooperation mechanisms and ergonomics. To date, the working group has focused on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems and Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), Handling of Hazardous Substances, Inspector and Technical Assistance Staff Training, and the development of the Tri-national Web Page.