Leveling the Playing Field Through U.S. Trade, Programs, and Partnerships

Spotlight

A bird’s eye view of colorful shipping containers. Photo by Tyler Casey for Unsplash.

Our Trade Tools

We promote fair competition for U.S. workers and businesses by ensuring compliance with international labor standards. Learn more about our trade tools.

A close-up shot of the flags of Canada, Mexico, and the United States side by side.

Labor Rights and the U.S Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA)

The USMCA has the strongest and most far-reaching labor provisions of any trade agreement. The core of the agreement contains a labor chapter that makes labor obligations fully enforceable.

A fishing vessel undergoing maintenance in Juwana, Pati Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. Two people are on board, and one person stands on a platform below the ship. Photo by Alfi Hilman for Unsplash.

Global Programs to Advance Labor Rights

Our technical assistance projects strengthen the capacity of governments to enforce labor laws, lift labor standards, and reduce labor risks in global supply chains.

A group of people, including ILAB staff and our partners, pose for a group photo in an open field in El Salvador as part of a data collection trip.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

ILAB closely monitors the performance of our projects, assesses their effectiveness, and ensures good stewardship of public funds. Learn more and read our reports.

Featured Resources

Quick Links

About Us

OTLA Fact Sheet

Join the OTLA Team

How to File a Labor Chapter Complaint

Labor Submissions Accepted for Review

How to File A Labor Chapter Complaint Under USMCA

USMCA Worker Hotline

Evaluation Report Repository

Additional Resources

The Better Work Program

Strengthening Labor Conditions and Promoting Good Jobs in the Fishing Sector

What is Worker Voice?

Learn more about worker voice, what the research says, and how workers can achieve better outcomes for their work conditions, wages and more.

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MigrantWorker.gov

Check out MigrantWorker.gov, a site designed for migrant workers in the U.S. to learn about their labor rights and access resources from the U.S. Department of Labor.

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Responsible Business Conduct and Labor Rights Info Hub

Explore U.S. policy, resources, and approaches to help businesses reduce labor risks throughout their global supply chains and support stable labor-management relations.

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USMCA Rapid Response Mechanism Cases

Review cases filed under the RRM, which investigates and remediates denials of workers' rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining at specific facilities in Mexico to support fair competition across North America.

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