December 10, 2024

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

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Women’s Bureau renewed a memorandum of understanding with the International Labour Organization office for the United States and Canada to continue working together to end gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work. 

November 27, 2024

US Department of Labor signs framework with governments of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, industry to combat child labor in West African cocoa production

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the signing of a new framework of action alongside the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and the World Cocoa Foundation to address child labor in the West African cocoa sector.

Together, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana produce nearly 60 percent of the world’s cocoa each year. Despite progress, children are still engaged in child labor on cocoa farms in these two countries.

November 22, 2024

US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative seek review of alleged labor rights denial at Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, auto parts facility

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested that the government of Mexico review an alleged denial of workers’ rights at Akwel Juarez, an automotive component manufacturing facility in Ciudad Juarez, State of Chihuahua, Mexico.

The U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Trade Representative co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee.

November 19, 2024

READOUT: Deputy Undersecretary Lee leads Department of Labor delegation at 2024 United Nations’ Climate Change Conference

WASHINGTON – A delegation from the Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs, led by  Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee, discussed shared labor and employment priorities with other national leaders at the 2024 United Nation’s Climate Change Conference - also known as the Conference of Parties 29 - in Azerbaijan, from Nov. 13-15, 2024.

November 18, 2024

US Department of Labor awards grant to reduce child labor, forced labor, improve working conditions in Brazil, Latin America

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $5 million to the International Labour Organization to address child and forced labor and improve working conditions in select supply chains in Brazil, as well as other Latin American countries and the Caribbean. 

November 8, 2024

US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative seek review of alleged denial of labor rights at glass facility in Matamoros, Mexico

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested that the government of Mexico review an alleged denial of workers’ at Vidrio Decorativo Occidental, a manufacturer of decorative glass in Matamoros, Mexico.

The U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Trade Representative co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee.

October 28, 2024

US Department of Labor signs memorandum with Kenyan government to promote labor cooperation, strengthen ties between two countries

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and Kenya’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection today signed a memorandum of understanding to advance labor cooperation between the two countries.

Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Labor and Social Protection Alfred N. Mutua met for a signing ceremony at the ministry’s Nairobi headquarters.

October 24, 2024

Departments of Labor, Commerce, Education renew memorandum of understanding with Switzerland to expand Registered Apprenticeship in US

WASHINGTON – The U.S. and Swiss governments have renewed a memorandum of understanding to expand and strengthen quality apprenticeships and pathways to good jobs, including Registered Apprenticeships, among Swiss companies and Swiss-invested companies in the U.S.

October 23, 2024

US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative seek review of alleged denial of labor rights at Hidalgo, Mexico, cement plant facility

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested that the Mexican government review an alleged denial of workers’ rights at Odisa Equipment Services, a cement plant machinery manufacturing facility in Hidalgo, Mexico.

The U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Trade Representative co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee.

October 8, 2024

Department of Labor finds Washington contractor transported farmworkers in unsafe vehicles by unlicensed drivers, housed them in moldy motel rooms

KENNEWICK, WA – The U.S. Department of Labor has debarred a Kennewick farm labor contractor from participating in the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program for three years after finding the employer provided workers with unhealthy living conditions; transported them in unsafe vehicles driven by people without licenses or proper permits; withheld wages and made illegal pay deductions; told workers to falsify documents to mask violations of federal regulations; and denied U.S. workers access to jobs.

September 17, 2024

US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative announce resolution of alleged labor rights’ denials at San Luis Potosí parts maker

WASHINGTON – The United States and Mexico have announced the successful resolution to a Rapid Response Mechanism petition alleging workers’ rights were denied at Impro Industries, a parts manufacturer in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. 

September 16, 2024

Department of Labor, Office of Trade Representative find auto interiors manufacturer denied labor rights at León, Guanajuato, facility

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested the Mexico government review alleged denial of workers’ rights at the Bader leather car interior manufacturing facility in León, Guanajuato. The Department of Labor and the Office of the Trade Representative co-chair the committee.

September 5, 2024

US Department of Labor announces updates in reporting, enhanced tools to bolster efforts to combat child, forced labor globally

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced updates on the goods and products produced through the use of child or forced labor, the industries where children are exploited and how governments can combat these abuses.

August 26, 2024

US Department of Labor, Office of Trade Representative announce resolution of course of remediation at Puebla, Mexico, Volkswagen plant

WASHINGTON – The Department of Labor and the Office of the Trade Representative today announced the successful resolution of a U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Rapid Response Labor Mechanism matter, following allegations of labor rights violations at the Volkswagen assembly plant in Puebla, Mexico. 

August 26, 2024

US Department of Labor, Colombia establish partnership to protect Colombian citizens’ labor rights while working in US

WASHINGTON As the nation begins Labor Rights Week, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Republic of Colombia today announced the South American country has joined the Consular Partnership Program to raise awareness among Colombians working in the U.S. about regulations protecting them in America’s workplaces. 

August 23, 2024

Department of Labor, Office of US Trade Representative find denial of labor rights at Pirelli facility in Silao, Guanajuato

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 occurred at the Pirelli Neumáticos rubber tire manufacturing facility in Silao, Guanajuato.

August 23, 2024

Department of Labor, Mexican Embassy kick off Labor Rights Week 2024, commemorate Consular Partnership Program’s 20th anniversary

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor officials and representatives from the Mexican Embassy and other diplomatic missions joined today to mark Labor Rights Week 2024 with an event promoting migrant workers’ rights and how the department is safeguarding these rights. 

August 1, 2024

READOUT: Acting Secretary Su leads US delegation, promotes workers’ rights at G20 Labor and Employment Ministers Meeting in Brazil

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and a delegation from the department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs joined labor ministers to discuss shared labor and employment priorities at the G20 Labor and Employment Ministers’ Meeting in Fortaleza, Brazil, from July 25 to 26, 2024. 

July 30, 2024

Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative reach agreement with Mexican government to protect labor rights at Puebla Volkswagen plant

WASHINGTON – The U.S. and Mexican governments today announced an agreement on a course of remediation at the Volkswagen vehicle assembly plant in Puebla, Mexico, in response to a petition filed under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism.