Failure to Comply with Labor Laws in Honduras

Local and U.S. labor unions have filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor for breach of the rules established under DR-CAFTA.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The U.S. Department of Labor has agreed to review a union complaint against the government of Tegucigalpa for breach of labor laws under the free trade agreement DR-CAFTA, according to an official announcement released today.

The largest U.S. labor federation AFL-CIO and 27 trade unions and civic organizations in Honduras filed a complaint on 26 March before the Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) Labor Department, which highlighted alleged violations of the labor chapter of DR-CAFTA.

The Labor Department reported today in the official newspaper of the Government ("Federal Register) that OTLA has agreed to review the complaint against Honduras.

According to the complaint, Honduras has practically deprived workers of their trade union rights in the agricultural, tailored clothing and auto parts sectors as well as firms in Puerto Cortes.

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