[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 150 (Friday, August 2, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 40452-40453] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-19657] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 40453]] DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of International Labor Affairs; U.S. National Administrative Office; North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation; Notice of Determination Regarding Review of Submission # 9601 AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Labor. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. National Administrative Office (U.S. NAO) gives notice that Submission # 9601 was accepted for review on July 29, 1996. The submission was filed with the NAO on June 13, 1996, by Human Rights Watch/Americas, the International Labor Rights Fund, and the Asociacion Nacional de Abogados Democraticos (National Association of Democratic Lawyers), and concerns the representation of employees of the Ministry of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Fishing by the Single Trade Union of Workers of the Fishing Ministry (SUTSP) in Mexico City, Mexico. 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 NAO. The objective of the review of the submission will be to gather information to assist the NAO to better understand and publicly report on the Government of Mexico's compliance with the objectives set forth in Articles 3 and 5 of the NAALC. EFFECTIVE DATE: July 29, 1996. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irasema T. Garza, Secretary, U.S. National Administrative Office, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room C-4327, Washington, D.C. 20210. Telephone: (202) 501-6653 (this is not a toll- free number). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 13, 1996, the Human Rights Watch/ Americas, the International Labor Rights Fund, and the Asociacion Nacional de Abogados Democraticos (National Association of Democratic Lawyers), filed a submission raising allegations concerning the right to organize and freedom of association for federal workers in Mexico. Artile 16(3) of the NAALC provides for the review of labor law matters in Canada and Mexico by the NAO. ``Labor law'' is defined in Article 49 of the NAALC to include freedom of association. The procedural guidelines for the NAO, published in the Federal Register on April 7, 1994, specify that, in general, the Secretary of the NAO 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. Submission # 9601 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; promoting compliance with and effective enforcement by each Party of, its labor law; and fostering transparency in the administration of labor law. Accordingly, this submission has been accepted for review of the allegations raised therein. The NAO's decision 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 NAO to better understand and publicly report on the issues concerning the right to organize and freedom of association raised in the submission, including the Government of Mexico's compliance with the obligations agreed to under Articles 3 and 5 of the NAALC. 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 NAO. Signed at Washington, D.C. on July 29, 1996. Irasema T. Garza, Secretary, U.S. National Administrative Office. [FR Doc. 96-19657 Filed 8-1-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-28-M