[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 19206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5514]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Notice of Intent To Fund the Foundation for Peace and Democracy 
(FUNPADEM)

AGENCY: Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of 
Labor.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to award up to a total of $7 million to the 
Foundation for Peace and Democracy (FUNPADEM) to implement a program to 
support government, worker, and employer initiatives to strengthen 
compliance with national labor laws in Central America and the 
Dominican Republic (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and 
the Dominican Republic).

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SUMMARY: The free trade agreement between the United States and the 
CAFTA-DR countries establishes a commitment to effectively enforce 
domestic labor laws. This project will assist CAFTA-DR countries to 
develop and implement measures to improve compliance with their 
national labor laws. The project will build on work currently being 
carried out by FUNPADEM under the existing cooperative agreement number 
E-9-K-3-0097 with the Department of Labor, which was awarded through a 
competitive process in 2003 (SGA 03-20, Vol. 68, No. 139 of the Federal 
Register on July 21, 2003). Utilizing FUNPADEM eliminates unnecessary 
costs, project duplication, and inconsistencies that would occur with a 
new implementer. The new funds will allow FUNPADEM to develop new 
activities and to extend activities currently under way at the national 
level to additional geographic regions within each country. The 
activities that FUNPADEM will extend and develop include:
     Develop and implement inspection and mediation case 
management systems;
     Improve inspection procedures and training for labor 
inspectors;
     Implement public awareness campaigns and training for 
workers and employers about labor laws and standards;
     Strengthen mediation centers and training for labor 
mediators; and
     Provide equipment such as computers and vehicles.
    In addition, a specific gender component will be developed and 
incorporated into the work described above. The component will focus on 
reducing discrimination against women and sexual harassment in the 
maquila sector through public awareness, training for workers and 
employers, and the development or strengthening of gender offices 
within the Ministries of Labor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Lisa Harvey, [email protected], (202) 
693-4750. U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Assistant Secretary, 
200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210.

    Dated: April 5, 2006.
Lisa Harvey,
Grant Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-5514 Filed 4-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-P