[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 162 (Thursday, August 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51494-51495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17889]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Agency Docket Number DOL-2020-0005]


Request for Comments for Dominican Republic-Central America-
United States Free Trade Agreement (``CAFTA-DR'') Report

AGENCY: Bureau of International Labor Affairs, United States Department 
of Labor and Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for comments from the public.

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SUMMARY: This notice is a request for comments from the public to 
assist the Secretary of Labor and the United States Trade 
Representative in preparing a report on labor capacity-building efforts 
under Chapter 16 (``the Labor Chapter'') and Annex 16.5 of the 
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement 
(``CAFTA-DR''). Comments are also welcomed on efforts made by the 
CAFTA-DR countries to implement the labor obligations under the Labor 
Chapter and the recommendations contained in a paper entitled, ``The 
Labor Dimension in Central America and the Dominican Republic--Building 
on Progress: Strengthening Compliance and Enhancing Capacity'' (the 
``White Paper''). This report is required under the Dominican Republic-
Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act 
(CAFTA-DR Implementation Act). The reporting function and the 
responsibility for soliciting public comments required under this Act 
were assigned to the Secretary of Labor in consultation with the United 
States Trade Representative (USTR). The upcoming report will 
consolidate reporting periods to cover January 1, 2016, through 
February 29, 2020. Public comments received in response to the November 
21, 2017, Federal Register Notice soliciting input on labor capacity-
building efforts under the CAFTA-DR will be taken under consideration 
for this upcoming report.

DATES: Written comments are due no later than 5 p.m. (ET) September 21, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Public comments should be submitted electronically to 
www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-rulemaking portal. Comments may also 
be submitted by postal or electronic mail to Giorleny Altamirano Rayo, 
Advisor, Office of Trade and Labor Affairs, Bureau of International 
Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, 
Room S-5006, Washington, DC 20210, [email protected]. Comments 
that are mailed must be received by the date indicated for 
consideration. Also, please note that due to security concerns, postal 
delivery in Washington, DC, may be delayed. Therefore, in order to 
ensure that comments receive full consideration, the Department 
encourages the public to submit comments via the internet as indicated 
above. Please submit only one copy of your comments by only one method. 
Also, please be advised that comments received will become a matter of 
public record and will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. The 
Department cautions commenters not to include personal information, 
such as Social Security Numbers, personal addresses, telephone numbers, 
and email addresses in their comments as such information will become 
viewable by the public on the http://www.regulations.gov website. It is 
each commenter's responsibility to safeguard his or her information. 
Comments submitted through http://www.regulations.gov will not include 
the commenter's email address unless the commenter chooses to include 
that information as part of his or her comment. If you are unable to 
provide submissions by either of these means, please contact Giorleny 
Altamirano Rayo (202-693-4868) to arrange for an alternative method of 
submission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Giorleny Altamirano Rayo, Advisor, 
Office of Trade and Labor Affairs, Bureau of International Labor 
Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room S-
5006, Washington, DC 20210. Email: [email protected], Telephone: 
202-693-4868.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background Information

    During the legislative approval process for the CAFTA-DR, the

[[Page 51495]]

Administration and the Congress reached an understanding on the need to 
support labor capacity-building efforts linked to recommendations 
identified in the ``White Paper'' of the Working Group of the Vice 
Ministers Responsible for Trade and Labor in the countries of Central 
America and the Dominican Republic. CAFTA-DR-specific trade capacity-
building funds were appropriated through fiscal year 2010 and 
subsequently, the Bureau of International Labor Affairs used its own 
appropriation to support technical assistance projects in CAFTA-DR 
partner countries through fiscal year 2020. For more information, see 
the full text of the CAFTA-DR at https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/cafta-dr-dominican-republic-central-america-fta/final-text and the ``White Paper'' at http://www.sice.oas.org/labor/White%20Paper_e.pdf.
    Under section 403(a) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act, 19 U.S.C. 
4111(a), the President must report biennially to the Congress on the 
progress made by the CAFTA-DR countries in implementing the labor 
obligations and the labor capacity-building provisions found in the 
Labor Chapter and in Annex 16.5, and in implementing the 
recommendations contained in the ``White Paper.'' Section 403(a)(4) 
requires that the President establish a mechanism to solicit public 
comments on the matters described in section 403(a)(3)(D) of the CAFTA-
DR Implementation Act, 19 U.S.C. 4111(a)(4) (listed below in 2).
    By Proclamation, the President delegated the reporting function and 
the responsibility for soliciting public comments under section 403(a) 
of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act, 19 U.S.C. 4111(a), to the Secretary 
of Labor, in consultation with the USTR (Proclamation No. 8272, 73 FR 
38,297 (June 30, 2008)). This notice serves to request public comments 
as required by this section.

2. The Department of Labor Is Seeking Comments on the Following Topics 
as Required Under Section 403(a)(3)(D) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation 
Act

    a. Capacity-building efforts by the United States government 
envisaged by Article 16.5 of the CAFTA-DR Labor Chapter and Annex 16.5;
    b. Efforts by the United States government to facilitate full 
implementation of the ``White Paper'' recommendations; and
    c. Efforts made by the CAFTA-DR countries to comply with Article 
16.5 of the Labor Chapter and Annex 16.5 and to fully implement the 
``White Paper'' recommendations, including progress made by the CAFTA-
DR countries in affording to workers internationally recognized worker 
rights through improved capacity.

3. Requirements for Submission

    Persons submitting comments must do so in English and must make the 
following note on the first page of their submissions: ``Comments 
regarding the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act.'' In order to be assured 
consideration, comments should be submitted by 5 p.m. (ET), September 
21, 2020. The Department of Labor encourages commenters to make on-line 
submissions using the www.regulations.gov website. When entering this 
site, enter ``Request for Comments on Labor Capacity-Building Efforts 
Under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade 
Agreement'' on the home page search bar and click ``search.'' The site 
will provide a search-results page listing all documents associated 
with this docket. Find a reference to this notice and click on the link 
entitled ``Comment Now.'' (For further information on using the 
www.regulations.gov website, please consult the resources provided on 
the website by clicking on ``How to Use This Site'' (found on the 
bottom of the home page under ``Help'').) The www.regulations.gov 
website allows users to provide comments by filling in a ``Type Comment 
field,'' or by attaching a document using an ``Upload File'' field. The 
Department prefers that uploaded submissions be in Microsoft Word 
(.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the submission is in an application 
other than those two, please indicate the name of the application in 
the ``Type Comment'' field.
    Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic 
submissions; rather, include any information that might appear in a 
cover letter in the submission itself. Similarly, to the extent 
possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in 
the same file as the submission itself and not as separate files.
    As noted, the Department strongly urges submitters to file comments 
through the www.regulations.gov website.
    Comments will be open to public inspection. Comments may be viewed 
on the www.regulations.gov website.

    Authority: The authority for this notice is granted by the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and the Executive 
Order No. 13889 of September 27, 2019.

Grant B. Lebens,
Chief of Staff, Bureau of International Labor Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-17889 Filed 8-19-20; 8:45 am]
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