[CTC] rabble.ca: U.S. trade barrier hit list shows what's at stake for Canada in Trans-Pacific Partnership

[Fred Heutte]

Acting Teamster Trade Lobbyist Mike Dolan applauds any agreement that
will actually improve the lives of working families in Guatemala and
make it safer for labor organizers to build worker power around the
world.

From: Hoffman, Brenda - ILAB [mailto:Hoffman.Brenda at dol.gov] 
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 10:54 AM
To

Cc: Subject: USTR NEWS: Acting U.S. Trade Representative Marantis and
Acting Labor Secretary Harris Announce Groundbreaking Labor Rights
Enforcement Agreement with Guatemala 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

For Immediate Release:
Contact:               Andrea Mead 

April 11, 2013
amead at ustr.eop.gov 

 
Gloria D. Della 

 
Della.Gloria.D at dol.gov

 

                                                

Acting U.S. Trade Representative Marantis and Acting Labor Secretary
Harris Announce Groundbreaking Labor Rights Enforcement Agreement with
Guatemala 

Washington, D.C. - Acting United States Trade Representative Demetrios
Marantis and Acting Secretary of Labor Seth Harris today announced that
the United States and Guatemala have agreed on a robust enforcement plan
to resolve concerns raised in a labor case brought by the United States
under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade
Agreement (CAFTA-DR).  The 18-point plan includes concrete actions with
specific time frames that Guatemala will implement within six months to
improve labor law enforcement.  This is the first labor case that the
United States has brought to dispute settlement under a trade agreement.


"This landmark agreement with Guatemala demonstrates that, by using the
tools in our trade agreements, we can achieve tangible and concrete
commitments that will improve the daily lives of workers in Guatemala
and ensure a level playing field for American workers upon its
implementation," said Ambassador Marantis.   "This plan reflects
Guatemala's commitment to constructive engagement to meet its labor
obligations under our trade agreement and the United States' commitment
to working with our trade agreement partners to help ensure respect for
labor rights."

 

Acting Secretary of Labor Seth Harris said, "Through dedication and
perseverance, Guatemala and the United States have reached a strong,
groundbreaking agreement.  Its full and timely implementation over the
coming months will yield demonstrable improvements in Guatemalan labor
law enforcement that will be a real victory for workers."

Under the Enforcement Plan, which was the result of extensive engagement
and resolve by both governments, Guatemala has committed to strengthen
labor inspections, expedite and streamline the process of sanctioning
employers and ordering remediation of labor violations, increase labor
law compliance by exporting companies, improve the monitoring and
enforcement of labor court orders, publish labor law enforcement
information, and establish mechanisms to ensure that workers are paid
what they are owed when factories close.

The United States and Guatemala will shortly sign and release the full
text of the Enforcement Plan.  A summary of key aspects of the
Enforcement Plan is available at USTR's website here
<http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/fact-sheets/2013/april/guatem
ala-labor-enforcement> .  

 

Background

 

On April 23, 2008, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of
Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and six Guatemalan worker
organizations filed a public submission under the CAFTA-DR alleging that
the Guatemalan government had violated its labor obligations by failing
to effectively enforce its labor laws.  After reviewing the submission,
the U.S. Department of Labor issued a public report finding significant
weaknesses in Guatemala's enforcement of its labor laws.

 

In an attempt to resolve its concerns, the U.S. Government requested
<http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2010/july/unit
ed-states-trade-representative-kirk-announces-lab>  consultations under
the CAFTA-DR labor chapter on July 30, 2010.  Unable to resolve the
matter through consultations, the United States requested
<http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2011/may/ustr-
kirk-seeks-enforcement-labor-laws-guatemala>  a meeting of the Free
Trade Commission on May 16, 2011, which took place on June 7, 2011.
Because the issues remained unresolved, the United States requested
<http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2011/august/us
-trade-representative-ron-kirk-announces-next-ste>  the establishment of
an arbitral panel on August 9, 2011.  Once the panel was constituted,
the parties suspended the work of the panel while they continued to
negotiate to reach agreement on an enforcement plan. 

 

The dispute settlement panel will be suspended to allow for
implementation of the Enforcement Plan.  If the Plan is not implemented
within specified time frames, arbitration may resume.

 

###

 

 

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