Office of the Secretary June 18, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) gives notice that on June 12, 2008, Submission 2008-01 was accepted for review pursuant to Article 16.4.3 of Chapter Sixteen (the Labor Chapter) of the Central AmericaDominican RepublicUnited States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The submission was filed with the OTLA on April 23, 2008 by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and a group of six Guatemalan trade unions. The submission alleges the Government of Guatemala has violated Articles 16.1.1, 16.2.1(a), and 16.3.1 of the Labor Chapter of the CAFTA-DR with respect to five separate cases. In these cases, the submission alleges that the Government of Guatemala failed to enforce its laws with regard to the right of association and the right to organize and bargain collectively. The submission alleges acts of violence against trade unionists, including two instances of murder. In addition, there are further allegations of failure to enforce laws relating to non-payment of severance and social security benefits. These allegations were supported by specific factual descriptions which, if substantiated, could demonstrate that the Government of Guatemala's actions were inconsistent with its commitments under the Labor Chapter. The objectives of the review of the submission will be to gather information to assist the OTLA to better understand and publicly report on the issues raised by the submission.