Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement; Notice of Determination Regarding Review of Submission #2011-03

요약

The Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) gives notice that on February 22, 2012, Submission 2011-03 was accepted for review pursuant to Article 16.4.3 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Father Christopher Hartley filed the submission with OTLA on December 22, 2011. The submitter alleges that the Government of the Dominican Republic (GODR) failed to fulfill its obligations under Chapter 16 of the CAFTA-DR (the Labor Chapter). U.S. Submission 2011-3 alleges that the GODR's actions or lack thereof denied workers their rights under the laws of the Dominican Republic relating to freedom of association, the right to organize, child labor, forced labor, the right to bargain collectively, and acceptable conditions of work. These allegations are supported by statements which, if substantiated, could constitute a failure on the part of the Dominican Republic to comply with its obligations under the CAFTA-DR. The objective of the review of the submission will be to gather information so that OTLA can better understand the allegations therein and publicly report on the U.S. Government's views regarding whether the GODR's actions were co