June 14, 2023

READOUT: US Department of Labor officials join interagency delegation to promote quality employment for Central American women

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee and Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon recently joined an interagency delegation that traveled to El Salvador and Honduras to highlight the importance of equity and opportunity through quality employment for working women amid more than $4.2 billion in private-sector commitments to create economic opportunities in northern Central America.

June 12, 2023

US Department of Labor honors Lalitha Natarajan as recipient of 2023 Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that Lalitha Natarajan, an activist in the fight against child labor and modern slavery in India, is the recipient of the 2023 Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor. The award was presented at the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai, India.

May 25, 2023

US Department of Labor, International Labour Organization announce partnership to curb gender-based violence, harassment in world of work

WASHINGTON – To curb widespread gender-based violence and harassment in workplaces across all industries and occupations, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Women’s Bureau has signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Labour Organization Office for the United States and Canada to create a world of work free of gender-based violence and harassment.

March 31, 2023

US Department of Labor, Trade Representative reach agreement on course of remediation to address labor rights violations at Piedras Negras plant

WASHINGTON – The U.S. and Mexico announced today an agreement on a course of remediation to address a second petition filed under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism at the VU Manufacturas auto parts facility in Piedras Negras, Coahuila.

March 28, 2023

US Department of Labor announces $5M cooperative agreement to promote worker voice, labor rights in Brazil, Paraguay

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $5 million cooperative agreement to the International Labor Organization to strengthen the capacity of worker and civil society organizations in Brazil and Paraguay to increase worker voice and representation and address abusive labor practices, including forced labor and child labor.

March 28, 2023

Readout: US Department of Labor hosts Summit for Democracy highlighting the importance of unions in upholding democratic rights

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor Deputy Undersecretary for International Labor Affairs Thea Lee hosted representatives from the U.S.

March 6, 2023

US Department of Labor, Trade Representative request Mexico review labor rights denial allegation at Unique Fabricating plant in Queretaro

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested a review by the government of Mexico after receiving an allegation that workers’ rights are being denied at the Unique Fabricating facility in Querétaro, Mexico.

February 14, 2023

US Department of Labor awards $2.5M grant to promote human, labor rights in the international cut flower supply chains

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an award of $2.5 million to support an initiative to assess and expand the successful Fair Food Program model with a pilot project to promote human and labor rights focused on cut flower farms in Chile, Mexico and South Africa. 

February 13, 2023

US Department of Labor announces $4.25M award to advance global action against forced labor by supporting International Labor Organization

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an award of $4.25 million to continue its efforts to end forced labor by supporting a global technical assistance project by the International Labor Organization, a United Nations’ agency seeking to advance social and economic justice by setting international labor standards and promoting rights at work.

February 13, 2023

READOUT: US Department of Labor expands OSHA’s ability to protect all workers by certifying special visa applications to ensure effective enforcement

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh joined Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker today to sign a memorandum that gives the Occupational Safety and Health Administration the authority to issue certifications in support of applications for U Nonimmigrant Status and T Nonimmigrant Status visas.

January 30, 2023

US Department of Labor, Trade Representative again request Mexico review alleged labor rights denial at Piedras Negras auto parts plant

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested that the government of Mexico conduct another review at the VU Manufacturing parts facility in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, in response to an allegation the facility continues to deny workers’ rights.

January 24, 2023

US Department of Labor awards $10M in funding to support stronger state labor courts, promote worker rights, protections in Mexico

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $10 million cooperative agreement to The Ergo Group to provide assistance to state labor courts in Mexico in protecting worker rights as part of the country’s 2019 labor law reform.

January 18, 2023

US, Mexico sign memorandum to protect temporary foreign workers

WASHINGTON – The governments of the U.S. and Mexico signed a memorandum of understanding on Jan. 17, 2023, to strengthen protections for workers participating in temporary foreign worker programs.