Text of USMCA Chapter 23 on Labor; US-Mexico Rapid Response Mechanism (USMCA Annex 31-A); Canada-Mexico Rapid Response Mechanism (CUSMA Annex 31-B)
MEXICO AND RAPID RESPONSE MECHANISM
Mexican Ministry of Labor webpage on Reforma Laboral (Labor Reform)
Mexican Centro Federal de Conciliación y Registro Laboral (CFCRL - Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registration)
Labor Ministry Guide for Legitimation of Collective Labor Agreements, May 6, 2021
Lineamientos Generales para los Procedimientos de Democracia Sindical (Guidelines for Union Democracy Procedures), adopted by the CFCRL, July 26, 2022
May 2, 2023: Ministry of Labor announced conclusion of 4-year process for legitimation of collective labor agreements, carried out by Labor Ministry and CFRCL and concluding at end of May 1, 2023.
Decree by CFCRL published in Diario Oficial on May 2 listed all collective labor agreements that have been legitimized to date, and all such agreements that are undergoing legitimation and will have until July 31, 2023 to complete the process. May 2 decree immediately terminated all non-listed (non-legitimized) collective labor agreements and required employers to cease collecting union dues, or providing preferential treatment, for any union whose collective agreement was terminated.
CFCRL maintains a continually updated list of legitimized collective labor agreements.
Mexican Ministry of Labor blogpost on “T-MEC and its Labor Rapid Response Mechanism - An action guide for Mexico”, January 2021
Excellent flow chart by the US Chamber of Commerce on the Rapid Response Mechanism including review panels under USMCA Chapter 31-A
Sept. 14, 2023: El Economista survey on all RRM complaints since 2020.
US and RAPID RESPONSE MECHANISM : GENERAL
US Department of Labor: (1) Labor Rights and the USMCA; (2) Page on RRM cases (3) Blogpost by Deputy Undersecretary Thea Lee on “USMCA Two Years Later” and achievements for worker rights, July 1, 2022
US Interim Procedural Guidelines for submission of US petitions under Rapid Response Mechanism (Spanish language translation)
June 22, 2023 US notice with final revised procedural guidelines for submissions by the public of information on potential failures by Canada or Mexico to implement their USMCA labor obligations.
USTR FAQ on labor hotline for complaints, Rapid Response Petitions, and Labor Chapter Petitions.
USTR webpage on Rapid Response Mechanism including links to US documents
September 29, 2023: US Department of Labor and International Labour Organization announced the launch of their Observation and Engagement for Rights Verification and Realization (OBSERVAR) joint initiative, with a launch event organized by the ILO and hosted by the Government of Mexico, near Silao GM truck plant. This initiative, to be located in Leon, Guanajuato, is to provide impartial observation of workplace votes and capacity-building for workers, employers and other key stakeholders on freedom of association and collective bargaining. ILO will implement the Initiative under $5 million/ 3-year cooperative agreement funded by US Labor Department.
CANADA and RAPID RESPONSE MECHANISM: GENERAL
Canada National Administrative Office (NAO) webpage on labor provisions in Canada’s FTAs, including USMCA
NAO Online form to report labour issues related to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
Additional resources on the RRM:
September 20, 2023: Conference at El Colegio de Mexico examines “Derechos Laborales y el T-MEC"/ Labor Rights and the USMCA”, with perspectives on the Mexican and US sides. Links: YouTube video, speaker list, conference website; Oct. 5 report in Inside US Trade ($)
Link to list of Academic articles on the RRM