U.S. and Guatemala Agree on Improved Labor Law Enforcement

The Office of the United States Trade Representative ("U.S.T.R.") today announced that "The United States and Guatemala have agreed to an ambitious and comprehensive enforcement plan that includes significant, concrete actions that the Guatemalan government will implement within specified time frames to improve enforcement of labor laws." A list of key actions contained in the plan is available on the U.S.T.R. website at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/fact-sheets/2013/april/guatemala-labor-enforcement

BACKGROUND

On April 23, 2008, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations ("AFL-CIO") and six Guatemalan unions filed a petition, the first of its kind, under the labor provisions of the United States-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement ("DR-CAFTA") with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Trade & Labor Affairs. On July 30, 2010, the U.S. Labor Department announced the United States would request consultations with Guatemala’s government under the labor chapter of the DR-CAFTA. It was the first such action by any U.S. administration against a trading partner.