[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 186 (Friday, September 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57877-57878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24414]



[[Page 57877]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement; Notice of 
Determination Regarding Review of Submission #2015-01

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) gives notice that 
on September 21, 2015, Submission #2015-01 regarding Peru was accepted 
for review pursuant to Article 17.5.5 of the United States-Peru Trade 
Promotion Agreement (PTPA).
    On July 23, 2015, the International Labor Rights Forum, Per[uacute] 
Equidad, and seven Peruvian workers' organizations provided a formal 
submission to OTLA alleging violations of Chapter 17 (the Labor 
Chapter) of the PTPA by the Government of Peru (GOP). The submission 
alleges that the GOP has failed to adopt and maintain in its statutes 
and regulations, and practices thereunder, the right of freedom of 
association and the effective recognition of the right to collective 
bargaining, and that it has also failed to effectively enforce its 
labor laws with respect to freedom of association, collective 
bargaining, and acceptable conditions of work.
    OTLA's decision to accept the submission 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 so that OTLA can better understand the 
allegations contained in the submission and publicly report on the 
issues raised therein in light of the GOP's obligations under the Labor 
Chapter of the PTPA. As set out in the Procedural Guidelines (published 
as 71 FR 76691, December 21, 2006), OTLA will complete the review and 
issue a public report to the Secretary of Labor within 180 days of this 
acceptance, unless circumstances, as determined by OTLA, require an 
extension of time.

DATES: Effective Date: September 21, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Levin, Director, OTLA, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S-5303, 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-4900. (This is not a toll-
free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 17.5 of the Labor Chapter of the 
PTPA establishes that each Party's contact point shall provide for the 
submission, receipt, and consideration of communications 
(``submissions'') on matters related to the Labor Chapter and each 
Party shall review those submissions in accordance with domestic 
procedures. A Federal Register notice issued on December 21, 2006, 
informed the public that the OTLA had been designated as the office to 
serve as the contact point for implementing the labor provisions of 
United States free trade agreements. The same Federal Register notice 
informed the public of the Procedural Guidelines that OTLA would follow 
for the receipt and review of public submissions (71 FR 76691, December 
21, 2006). These Procedural Guidelines are available at http://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/pdf/2006021837.pdf. According to the definitions 
contained in the Procedural Guidelines (Section B) a ``submission'' is 
``a communication from the public containing specific allegations, 
accompanied by relevant supporting information, that another Party has 
failed to meet its commitments or obligations arising under a labor 
chapter'' of a U.S. free trade agreement.
    The Procedural Guidelines specify that OTLA shall consider six 
factors, to the extent that they are relevant, in determining whether 
to accept a submission for review:
    1. Whether the submission raises issues relevant to any matter 
arising under a labor chapter;
    2. Whether a review would further the objectives of a labor 
chapter;
    3. Whether the submission clearly identifies the person filing the 
submission, is signed and dated, and is sufficiently specific to 
determine the nature of the request and permit an appropriate review;
    4. Whether the statements contained in the submission, if 
substantiated, would constitute a failure of the other Party to comply 
with its obligations or commitments under a labor chapter;
    5. Whether the statements contained in the submission or available 
information demonstrate that appropriate relief has been sought under 
the domestic laws of the other Party, or that the matter or a related 
matter is pending before an international body; and
    6. Whether the submission is substantially similar to a recent 
submission and significant, new information has been furnished that 
would substantially differentiate the submission from the one 
previously filed.
    U.S. Submission # 2015-01 alleges that, by permitting the unlimited 
consecutive renewal of short-term contracts under the Law Promoting 
Non-Traditional Exports (Law No. 22342) and Article 80 of the Law of 
Productivity and Labor Competitiveness (Law No. 728, Supreme Decree No. 
003-97-TR), the GOP has failed to adopt and maintain, in its statutes 
and regulations, and practices thereunder, the right of freedom of 
association and the effective recognition of the right to collective 
bargaining. The submission also cites specific instances to support its 
allegation that the GOP, through its action or inaction, has failed to 
effectively enforce its labor laws in the non-traditional export and 
agricultural sectors with respect to freedom of association, the 
effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, and 
acceptable conditions of work.
    In determining whether to accept the submission, OTLA considered 
the statements in the submission in light of the relevant factors 
identified in the Procedural Guidelines. The submission raises issues 
relevant to the Labor Chapter of the PTPA because it cites alleged GOP 
failures to adopt and maintain in its statutes and regulations, and 
practices thereunder, freedom of association and the effective 
recognition of the right to collective bargaining, and alleged GOP 
failures to effectively enforce its labor laws with respect to freedom 
of association, collective bargaining, and acceptable conditions of 
work. It also clearly identifies the submitter and is sufficiently 
specific to determine the nature of the request and permit an 
appropriate review. The submission raises pertinent issues that could 
further the objectives of the Labor Chapter and that could, if 
substantiated, constitute a failure of the GOP to comply with its 
obligations under the Labor Chapter. The submitters provided 
information on specific cases of alleged labor violations and included 
citations to both Peruvian law and International Labor Organization 
(ILO) Conventions ratified by Peru that they believe were violated by 
the allegations in the submission. The submitters provided information 
on efforts to seek appropriate relief for these alleged violations 
under domestic laws and to raise the issues with GOP officials and with 
the ILO. The submission also notes that the issues raised in the 
submission have not been remedied to date. OTLA has not received 
similar submissions related to the PTPA obligations of the GOP. 
Accordingly, OTLA has accepted the submission for review.
    OTLA's decision to accept the submission for review is not intended 
to indicate any determination as to the validity or accuracy of the 
allegations contained in the submission. The

[[Page 57878]]

objective of the review will be to gather information so that OTLA can 
better understand the allegations contained in the submission and to 
publicly report on the issues raised therein. As set out in the 
Procedural Guidelines, OTLA will complete the review and issue a public 
report to the Secretary of Labor within 180 days, unless circumstances, 
as determined by OTLA, require an extension of time. The public report 
will include a summary of the review process, as well as any findings 
and recommendations.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on September 21, 2015.
Carol Pier,
Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-24414 Filed 9-24-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-28-P