Department of Labor issues report on worker rights concerns in Honduras, Honduras pledges to work closely with the United States

On February 27, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor released a report that raises serious concerns regarding the effective enforcement of labor laws in Honduras under the labor chapter of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement ("DR-CAFTA"). The report provides recommendations to address the concerns and calls for the contact points established under Article 16.4 of DR-CAFTA to consult to develop and implement a monitoring and action plan.

The U.S. Submission specifically asserted such failures with respect to seven factories in the apparel and auto parts manufacturing sectors, nine plantations or farms in the agricultural sector, and enterprises at the Port of Cortés.