WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of up to $4.7 million to Partners of the Americas, a private nonprofit that promotes decent work and acceptable work conditions in Latin America, to enhance compliance with international labor standards by Ecuador’s banana and cut flowers industries. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative today announced the conclusion of a self-initiated Rapid Response Mechanism action under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement with respect to Draxton Mexico, an auto parts facility in Guanajuato. The action alleged that the company had denied freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative today announced the conclusion of a Rapid Response Mechanism petition under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement with respect to Teklas Automotive Mexico, an auto parts facility in Aguascalientes. The petition alleged that the company had denied its workers their freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested the Mexican government conduct a review based on its finding that a denial of workers’ rights has occurred at Minera Tizapa S.A. de C.V., in Zacazonapan.

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested the Mexican government review an allegation that workers’ rights are being denied at the Servicios Industriales González industrial parts manufacturing facility in Nuevo León, Mexico.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2 million award to the International Labor Organization to further support the use of worker-driven, social compliance systems to promote fundamental labor rights and acceptable work conditions, including an end to forced labor in supply chains.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and Dominican Republic government representatives today renewed a partnership to strengthen collaboration with the Caribbean nation’s U.S. embassy and consulates to provide its citizens with useful information about U.S. laws protecting their workplace safety and health, wages and work hours and other employment matters. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an allocation of $6.95 million to support a research project by the International Labor Organization to better inform policymakers in their efforts to end child and forced labor.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Spain’s Second Vice President and Minister of Labor and Social Economy Yolanda Díaz Pérez met in Washington on Feb. 26, 2024. They signed a joint statement highlighting their shared concerns about algorithmic bias in automated systems and artificial intelligence that can lead to workplace discrimination of historically underserved and vulnerable groups. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested the government of Mexico review an allegation that workers’ rights are being denied at the RV Fresh guacamole manufacturing facility in Michoacán, Mexico. The Secretary of Labor and U.S. Trade Representative co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee.

The request for review follows a Jan. 17, 2024 petition filed by the MP Union and its union confederation, the Confederación Central Nacional.

WASHINGTON – The United States government today announced the successful resolution of a U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Rapid Response Labor Mechanism matter at the Goodyear rubber tire facility in San Luis Potosí. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement, co-chaired by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of the Trade Representative, today requested the government of Mexico conduct a review at Atento call centers in Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo. The committee found evidence that workers’ rights have been denied at these centers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of up to $12.4 million in grant funding for three organizations to reduce child and forced labor in Mexico and support migrant workers. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested the government of Mexico conduct a review based on its finding that a denial of workers’ rights has occurred at the Fujikura auto parts plant in Piedras Negras, Coahuila.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. and Mexico have resolved a Rapid Response Mechanism petition under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement that alleged INISA2000 — an Aguascalientes, Mexico, denim garment facility — denied freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of up to $4 million to support a project to build the capacity of local communities in Nepal to address child labor and forced labor, with a specific focus on confronting new challenges arising from climate change.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of up to $6 million in grant funding for the Solidarity Center to advance quality jobs and labor rights in Indonesia and the Philippines.

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested the government of Mexico review an allegation that workers’ rights are being denied at the Autoliv auto parts plant in Querétaro, Mexico. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an award of up to $3 million in grant funding to the International Labor Organization to promote occupational safety and health, and counter worker discrimination and gender-based violence and harassment in Lesotho.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee made the following statement on the recent violence against unionists in Bangladesh:

“The U.S. Department of Labor is deeply concerned over the escalation of violence and crackdown on workers and trade unionists in connection with Bangladesh’s minimum wage review. The department condemns the alleged police shootings of Rasel Howlader on Oct. 30, 2023, and Anjuara Khatun today.