[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: 94-9535] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: April 20, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of International Labor Affairs; U.S. National Administrative Office; North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation; Determination to Accept Submission #940002 for Review AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Labor. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. National Administrative Office gives notice that on April 15, 1994, Submission #940002 was accepted for review. The Submission was filed with the Office on February 14, 1994, by the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE) and concerns the operations of an employer in Juarez, 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 UE filed a Submission with the U.S. National Administrative Office established under the NAALC concerning allegations involving the operations of an employer in Juarez, 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 UE 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. 94-9535 Filed 4-19-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-28-M