Office of the Secretary May 22, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) gives notice that on May 14, 2012, Submission 2012-01 regarding Honduras was accepted for review pursuant to Article 16.4.3 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). On March 26, 2012, the AFL-CIO and 27 Honduran civil society and worker organizations provided a formal submission to OTLA alleging violations of the Labor Chapter (Chapter 16) of the CAFTA-DR stemming from the Government of Honduras' (GOH's) actions or failure to act. The submission alleges that the GOH's actions or lack thereof denied workers at factories in the apparel and auto parts manufacturing sectors, plantations in the agricultural sector, and enterprises at the Port of Cortez their rights under Honduran labor law relating to freedom of association, the right to organize, the right to bargain collectively, child labor, and acceptable conditions of work. The submitters also allege the GOH is in violation of the CAFTA-DR due to recently passed legislation which weakens workers rights and on-going deficiencies in its laws and legal system. The objective of the review of the submission will be to gather information so that OTLA can better understand the allegations therein and publicly report on the U.S. Government's views regarding whether the GOH's actions were consistent with its obligations under the Labor Chapter of the CAFTA-DR.