Labor Department to Review New Allegations of
Workers’ Rights Violations against Mexico

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor’s National Administrative Office (NAO) today agreed to review allegations that the government of Mexico failed to enforce its law protecting the rights of workers at two garment factories located in Mexico.

“Effective enforcement of labor laws is fundamental to the labor principles to which the U.S., Canada and Mexico are committed under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation,” said NAO Acting Director Lewis Karesh. “To this end, the Labor Department intends to conduct a thorough review.”

The submission was filed under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation, the labor side agreement of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which is the negotiated agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico that deals with the enforcement of each country’s labor laws and improving working conditions and living standards for workers.

In the submission designated as 2003-01, the submitters allege that the Mexican government failed to enforce its labor laws concerning freedom of association and protection of the right to organize and bargain collectively. Additional allegations involve the right to access to fair, equitable and transparent labor tribunal proceedings, minimum employment standards, including minimum wage and overtime pay, and criticism of Mexico’s enforcement of occupational safety and health standards.

The submission was filed by the United Students Against Sweat Shops and Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador. This is the fifteenth submission against Mexico that has been filed with the NAO under the labor side agreement—the majority of which involved issues of freedom of association. The submission was also filed with the government of Canada. The NAO has up to 180 days to review the case and issue a public report under its procedural guidelines.

ILAB conducts research on and formulates international economic, trade, immigration and labor policies and provides international technical assistance in support of U.S. foreign labor policy objectives.

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.