Department of Labor June 16, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) gives notice that on June 10, 2011, Submission 2011-01 was accepted for review pursuant to Article 15.4.2 of Chapter Fifteen (the Labor Chapter) of the BahrainUnited States Free Trade Agreement. The submission was filed with OTLA on April 21, 2011, by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, with a statement from the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions. The submission alleges the Government of Bahrain has violated Article 15.1.1 of the Labor Chapter of the BahrainUnited States Free Trade Agreement by failing to fulfill its obligations and commitments under the International Labour Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up with regard to the rights of association and non-discrimination against trade unionists. These allegations were supported by specific factual descriptions which, if substantiated, could demonstrate that the Government of Bahrain's actions were inconsistent with its commitments under the Labor Chapter. The objectives of the review of the submission will be to gather information so that OTLA can better understand and publicly report on the U.S. Government's views regarding whether the Government of Bahrain's actions were consistent with the obligations set forth in the Labor Chapter of the BahrainUnited States Free Trade Agreement.