Details of USMCA Labor Complaint Submissions Slated for Federal Register
The process to submit written complaints for either the rapid response mechanism or for violations of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's labor chapter will be published in the Federal Register June 30, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is soliciting comments on the submission procedures. Comments are due by Aug. 15.
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Anyone can submit a complaint to the Office of Trade and Labor Affairs at the Labor Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs, via email, USMCA-petitions@dol.gov, or by mail. Electronic, searchable formatted submissions are preferred. The complainants must provide their names, addresses and contact information, though they can ask that their identities remain confidential. The complaint needs to identify what facility the allegations pertain to, and include specific facts of the alleged denial of rights. The interagency labor committee that will review petitions also recommends that the Mexican laws that are not being followed be listed, and that the petition say whether any relief has been sought in Mexico, and if so, where that case stands.
The review will be done within 30 days to see if it's credible, and if it is, a rapid response review will begin. But if it's not sufficient or credible, the committee will tell the petitioner, as well as the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.
(Federal Register 06/30/20)