US Department of Labor awards $10M to continue support of more effective, transparent resolution of labor disputes in Mexico

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $10 million cooperative agreement to American Institutes for Research to strengthen the labor mediation process in Mexico, by increasing transparency in labor disputes and improving the country’s labor justice system.

Administered by the department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs, the project aligns with the department’s support of Mexico’s 2019 labor law reform effort and its commitment to promote effective recognition of collective bargaining rights as part of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Labor law reform has highlighted the importance of conciliation proceedings to better resolve individual and collective labor disputes in Mexico. These proceedings are expected to more efficiently settle disputes while reducing needs for further arbitration and demands on the country’s new labor court system. The project seeks to strengthen the capacity of 17 key Mexican states to achieve conciliation in labor disputes. 

By helping local conciliation centers to operate more effectively and efficiently, the project will help centers handle more conciliation cases by increasing their institutional, technical and legal capacities. In addition, it will develop tools, training and dissemination efforts to promote workplace dialogue and greater success in resolving labor disputes.

Currently, ILAB is funding projects by AIR and IMPAQ LLC to support Mexico’s labor reform efforts. In May 2020, IMPAQ LLC – a global policy research, analytics and implementation firm – became a wholly owned subsidiary of AIR. Founded in 1946, AIR is a non-profit that works with federal, state and local government agencies, philanthropies and other organizations to conduct research and provide technical assistance in the areas of education, health and workforce development, in the U.S. and abroad.

Learn more about the department’s international work.