[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9534]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 20, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
 

Bureau of International Labor Affairs; U.S. National 
Administrative Office; North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation; 
Determination To Accept Submission #940001 for Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. National Administrative Office gives notice that on 
April 15, 1994, Submission #940001 was accepted for review. The 
Submission was filed with the Office on February 14, 1994, by the 
International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), AFL-CIO, and concerns the 
operations of an employer in Chihuahua, Mexico. The allegations of the 
Submission relate principally to the right of freedom of association 
and the right to organize.
    Article 16(3) of the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation 
(NAALC) provides for the review of labor law matters in Canada and 
Mexico by the U.S. National Administrative Office. The objective of the 
review of the Submission will be to gather information to assist the 
U.S. National Administrative Office to better understand and publicly 
report on the Government of Mexico's promotion of compliance with, and 
effective enforcement of, its labor law through appropriate government 
action, as set out in Article 3 of the NAALC.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 15, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jorge Perez-Lopez, Acting Secretary, U.S. National Administrative 
Office, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., room C-4322, 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 501-6653 (this is not a toll-
free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 14, 1994, the IBT filed a 
Submission with the U.S. National Administrative Office established 
under the NAALC concerning allegations involving the operations of an 
employer in Chihuahua, Mexico. The allegations of the Submission relate 
principally to the right of freedom of association and the right to 
organize.
    Article 16(3) of the NAALC provides for the review of labor law 
matters in Canada and Mexico by the U.S. National Administrative 
Office. ``Labor law'' is defined in Article 49 of the NAALC to include 
freedom of association and the right to organize.
    The procedural guidelines for the U.S. National Administrative 
Office, published in the Federal Register on April 7, 1994, specify 
that, in general, the Secretary of the U.S. National Administrative 
Office shall accept a Submission for review if it raises issues 
relevant to labor law matters in Canada or Mexico and if a review would 
further the objectives of the NAALC.
    The Submission by the IBT relates to labor law matters in Mexico. A 
review would also appear to further the objectives of the NAALC, as set 
out in Article 1, which include improving working conditions and living 
standards in each Party's territory; promoting, to the maximum extent 
possible, the labor principles set out in Annex 1 of the NAALC, among 
them freedom of association and the right to organize; promoting 
compliance with, and effective enforcement by each Party of, its labor 
law; and fostering transparency in the administration of labor law. 
Accordingly, the Submission has been accepted for review. However, 
acceptance for review is not intended to indicate any determination as 
to the validity or accuracy of the allegations contained in the 
Submission.
    The objective of the review will be to gather information to assist 
the U.S. National Administrative Office to better understand and 
publicly report on the Government of Mexico's promotion of compliance 
with, and effective enforcement of, its labor law through appropriate 
government action, as set out in Article 3 of the NAALC. In particular, 
the review will focus on compliance with, and effective enforcement of, 
labor laws that guarantee the right of association and the right to 
organize freely and prohibit the dismissal of workers because of 
efforts to exercise those rights. The review will be completed, and a 
public report issued, within 120 days, or 180 days if circumstances 
require an extension of time, as set out in the procedural guidelines 
of the U.S. National Administrative Office.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on April 15, 1994.
Jorge Perez-Lopez,
Acting Secretary, U.S. National Administrative Office.
[FR Doc. 94-9534 Filed 4-19-94; 8:45 am]
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