Levin Statement on U.S. DOL Report on Labor Conditions in Colombia

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Sander Levin (MI-09) today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Trade and Labor Affairs report on labor conditions in Colombia.  This report was released in response to a submission received under the U.S. – Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

“We are entering the fifth year of labor conditions in Colombia that fall woefully short of the commitments they made under the U.S. – Colombia Free Trade Agreement.  That’s why we fought to ensure that the Labor Action Plan was part of the Congressional Implementing legislation and opposed the FTA when it was not.  The report verifies, as has the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, that Colombia is failing to meet its obligation in such critical areas as ending the use of contract mechanisms that are vehicles to undermine worker rights and the failure to effectively use penalties against employers depriving workers of the basic rights to bargain collectively.  It is very disappointing that DOL’s report concludes simply with recommendations for engagement to address concerns and contact point consultations between the two governments with a 9 month delay before the situation is reassessed.  The time for delay is over; we must insist that our trade agreements are enforced.”

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