U.S. Presses Guatemala Over Labor Rights

Failure to comply with these provisions, included in the Free Trade Agreement, would mean the matter would proceed to arbitration.

Of the 17 commitments required by the U.S. to ensure respect for labor standards, Guatemala is compliant with 15, the two outstanding are the restoration the Ministry of Labour’s power to sanction and the establishment of a deposit for companies operating under the Maquila Law.

"The USTR has given us some time, but confirmed that if we do not present options to resolve the alleged non-observance of labor rights, they will insist on going to an arbitration panel", said Economy Minister Luis Velasquez to Prensalibre.com.

Velasquez said the answer given to the USTR is that "we can not do any more, especially if we are asked to do something that has been declared unconstitutional."

Source: prensalibre.com

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