September 14, 2022

Secretary of Labor, US Trade Representative support protection of labor rights at Mexico’s Manufacturas VU auto parts facility

WASHINGTON – The U.S. and Mexico today announced that, in response to a petition provided in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the Mexican government took actions to ensure a free and fair election to choose union representation for workers at the Manufacturas VU Auto Components facility in Piedras Negras, State of Coahuila.

September 13, 2022

US Department of Labor report finds Dominican Republic’s sugar industry workers face unsafe, unfair working conditions; enforcement challenges

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced publication of its seventh report detailing ongoing concerns about egregious working conditions and labor law enforcement challenges in the Dominican Republic’s sugar industry.

September 2, 2022

US Department of Labor announces availability of $10M in funding for project to support state-level labor courts in Mexico

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a funding opportunity availability of up to $10 million to support the work of the local, state-level labor courts created by Mexico’s 2019 labor law reform. The project will focus on strengthening the capacity of the courts to adjudicate labor cases, particularly those related to freedom of association, collective bargaining and other fundamental labor rights.

August 30, 2022

US Department of Labor announces availability of $12M in funding to promote workers’ rights in Brazil, Colombia, Peru

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opportunity for up to $12 million in grant funding to strengthen democratic, independent workers’ organizations and help promote labor rights in supply chains in Brazil, Colombia and Peru. The project will focus on underserved communities and seek to advance gender and racial equity.

August 29, 2022

US Department of Labor announces availability of $4M in funding to tackle child labor in West African agriculture

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor announced the availability of up to $4 million in funding to support the Economic Community of West African States and the Government of Nigeria in their efforts to address child labor in agricultural communities. 

August 29, 2022

US Department of Labor to make $5M in funding available to increase protection of workers in Brazil, Paraguay’s cattle-raising areas

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced availability of up to $5 million in grant funding to support efforts to address abusive labor practices, particularly in cattle-raising areas of Brazil and Paraguay.

August 29, 2022

US Department of Labor awards $12M to support improved enforcement of Mexico’s labor laws, landmark 2019 reform efforts

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of grant funding of $12 million to the American Institutes for Research to empower federal and state labor inspectors in Mexico to improve enforcement of Mexico’s landmark 2019 labor law reform in five of its states.

August 2, 2022

US Department of Labor awards $7M agreement to help reduce child labor, forced labor, other abuses in Mexico’s chile pepper, tomato sectors

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $7 million cooperative agreement to increase worker protections to reduce child labor, forced labor and other forms of labor exploitation in the chile pepper and tomato sectors operating in the Mexican states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Guerrero and Oaxaca.

July 21, 2022

US government seeks Mexico’s review of allegations that workers’ rights to associate, collectively bargain were denied at Coahuila auto parts plant

WASHINGTON The U.S. government today requested the Mexican government review whether the rights of free association and collective bargaining have been denied to workers at the VU Manufacturing parts facility in Piedras Negras, Coahuila. 

July 21, 2022

Readout: Secretary Walsh, Spain’s Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz Pérez reaffirm joint commitment to strengthening worker voice, social equity, wage protections

WASHINGTON U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Spain’s Second Vice President and Minister of Labor and Social Economy Yolanda Díaz Pérez met in Washington on July 20, 2022, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that reasserts both countries’ commitment to addressing a wide range of concerns affecting workers and underserved populations. 

July 18, 2022

US Department of Labor, US Trade Representative applaud agreement to resolve alleged violations of workers’ rights at Panasonic auto parts plant

WASHINGTON The United States and Mexico have announced the successful resolution to a Rapid Response Mechanism petition that alleged workers at the Panasonic Automotive Systems plant in Reynosa, Mexico, were denied freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.

June 17, 2022

Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force issues strategy to prevent importation of goods made with forced labor in the People’s Republic of China

WASHINGTON – The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, which includes the U.S. Department of Labor as a member, today issued the “Strategy to Prevent Importation of Goods Mined, Produced, or Manufactured with Forced Labor in the People’s Republic of China,” as required by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

June 10, 2022

US Department of Labor issues ‘Fair Recruitment Guidance’ as part of multi-agency effort to promote ethical recruitment of temporary migrant workers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Departments of Labor and State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development today issued “Guidance on Fair Recruitment Practices for Temporary Migrant Workers,” with principles and guidelines on preventing abuse of prospective workers.

June 10, 2022

El Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos emite una “Guía de Reclutamiento Justo” como parte del esfuerzo de múltiples agencias para promover el reclutamiento ético de trabajadores migrantes temporales

WASHINGTON – El Departamento de Trabajo y el Departamento de Estado y la Agencia de los Estados Unidos para el Desarrollo Internacional emitieron hoy la “Guía sobre prácticas justas de reclutamiento para trabajadores migrantes temporales,” con principios y directrices sobre la prevención del abuso de trabajadores.

June 10, 2022

Statement by Secretary Walsh on the International Labor Organization’s recognition of occupational safety, health as a fundamental right

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement after the International Labor Organization today recognized occupational safety and health as a Fundamental Principle and Right at Work:

“The U.S. Department of Labor commends the International Labor Organization for recognizing for the first time the right to a safe and healthy working environment in the framework of the ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work at the 2022 International Labor Conference.