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labour | workers’ rights

Katherine Tai on enforcing trade agreements
12-Oct-2022 IELP
The original NAFTA might have had labor and environment rules, but they turned out that they were unenforceable and there were no teeth, said USTR Tai.
AFL-CIO requests USMCA labor complaint at Saint-Gobain glassmaker in Mexico
28-Sep-2022 Reuters
The biggest US labor federation asked the US government to open a complaint at a Saint-Gobain glass plant in Mexico, the latest in a series of petitions alleging worker rights violations in Mexico under a regional trade pact.
Mexico, US close VU Manufacturing complaint in fifth USMCA labor probe
15-Sep-2022 Reuters
Mexico and the United States have resolved the latest in a series of labor complaints under a regional trade pact, saying that workers at auto-parts plant VU Manufacturing in northern Mexico were able to elect the union of their choice.
Hogging the gains from trade in Mexico
26-Aug-2022 Medium
The multinational pork giant Smithfield, now owned by a Chinese firm, took advantage of trade, investment, labor, environmental, and immigration policies, after NAFTA, to expand its low-wage factory farming model on both sides of the US-Mexico border.
False good news for future EU free trade agreements
27-Jun-2022 European Coordination Via Campesina
ECVC is heavily critical of the lack of ambition shown by the European Commission to tackle only future free trade agreements, meaning the pre-existing FTAs can continue their environmental and social devastation.
Mexican workers file USMCA complaint against VU Manufacturing
20-Jun-2022 Bloomberg
A group of Mexican workers at VU Manufacturing has filed a petition under the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) alleging that the Michigan-based auto-parts maker is pushing them to join a union friendly to the company.
New Trade Minister and Assistant Minister have mandate for progressive reform of Australia’s trade policy
7-Jun-2022 AFTINET
This policy commits Labor to oppose corporate rights to sue governments, stronger medicine and copyright monopolies, provisions for deregulation of public services, and the removal of labour market testing for temporary migrant workers.
Independent unions in Mexico use the USMCA to stop abuse at multinational plants
25-May-2022 El Pais
New worker representatives push for renewal under the cross-border agreement to punish labor violations.
Overselling EU trade deals: new study uncovers failures of sustainability impact assessments
11-May-2022 Greenpeace
The European Commission uses flawed and tardy sustainability impact assessments as a fig leaf for environmentally, socially and economically damaging EU trade agreements, according to a new study.
S. Korea presses US to ratify key international labor conventions
28-Apr-2022 Hankyoreh
With the Korean government last year having ratified three conventions, including one prohibiting the use of forced labor, it has now ratified seven of eight core ILO conventions. Meanwhile, the US has ratified only two.
Britain’s hopes of post-Brexit US trade deal ‘depend on workers’ rights’
25-Apr-2022 The Guardian
Unions from both sides of the Atlantic accuse Boris Johnson’s government of failing to grasp importance of labour rights.
Mexican union calls for US probe into alleged labor abuses at Panasonic plant
19-Apr-2022 Reuters
In a petition to US labor officials, Mexican union SNITIS said a Panasonic car parts plant in the border city of Reynosa violated the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
UK will not offer Indians more visas in post-Brexit trade talks
19-Apr-2022 City AM
The government will not allow more Indians to come to the UK through new visa routes in any UK-India free trade deal.
Morrison government’s trade deal with India leaves workers at risk of exploitation, unions say
11-Apr-2022 The Guardian
Australian unions have raised fears the Morrison government’s trade deal with India will fuel the growth of temporary, employer-sponsored migration – a trend they say leaves workers “highly vulnerable to exploitation”.
US plans more labour complaints in Mexico after union votes
9-Mar-2022 Bloomberg
The US is investigating labor-rights violations in Mexico and expects to bring more complaints under the USMCA.
Workers at Mexico border auto parts plant oust powerful union, eying ripple effect
9-Mar-2022 Reuters
Mexican factory Tridonex came under US scrutiny last year after US unions pushed for a labour complaint under the USMCA trade deal, saying workers had been blocked from choosing their union.
Groups, mayors oppose RCEP trade agreement
24-Jan-2022 Inquirer Net
Over 60 groups of farmers, fishers, workers, civil society organizations and 186 mayors oppose the Senate’s concurrence to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement.
Fears UK-India trade deal could undermine sweatshops fight
20-Jan-2022 Politico
A UK agreement with India, the negotiations for which begin this week, could worsen conditions in the clothing sweatshops of South Asian neighbors, according to labor rights campaigners and a major industry group.
Australia free trade deal with UK denounced by unions as ‘anti-worker’
17-Dec-2021 The Guardian
The agreement makes it easier for citizens to work in each country and removes the need for labour market testing.
Investment governance in Africa to support climate resilience and decarbonization
13-Dec-2021 Afronomics Law
African nations should not be expected to take the lead in addressing a climate emergency they did not create. The priority for Africa is to receive support and investment to build resilience and adapt to climate impacts.