1. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 1 The North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation: The Mexican Perspective Workshop on Labor Dimension of FTAs and Regional Integration Processes Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago July 10, 2007.

2. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 2 North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC) US and Canadian unions argued that comparative advantages of Mexico would cause job loss and a-raise-to-the-bottom in their countries. US and Canadian unions argued that comparative advantages of Mexico would cause job loss and a-raise-to-the-bottom in their countries. Negotiations of labor and environmental agreements as a precondition to approve NAFTA in the US Congress. Negotiations of labor and environmental agreements as a precondition to approve NAFTA in the US Congress.

3. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 3 North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC) During the NAALC discussions, negotiators acknowledged three different law traditions and evolution. During the NAALC discussions, negotiators acknowledged three different law traditions and evolution. The Mexican labor law protects workers. 66 ILO Conventions were in force in Mexico. The Mexican labor law protects workers. 66 ILO Conventions were in force in Mexico.

4. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 4 NAALC: Objectives Main objective: Improve labor conditions of workers and their standard of living. Main objective: Improve labor conditions of workers and their standard of living. Cooperation among the three countries. Cooperation among the three countries. Commitment to effectively enforce domestic labor legislation by the competent national authorities. Commitment to effectively enforce domestic labor legislation by the competent national authorities. Transparency in the administration of labor law. Transparency in the administration of labor law.

5. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 5 NAALC: Main Concepts Promotion and respect of the identified 11 common labor principles. No new labor laws were created. Promotion and respect of the identified 11 common labor principles. No new labor laws were created.11 common labor principles11 common labor principles Explicit acknowledgement of the right of each Party to establish its own labor legislation. There is no harmonization of labor laws. Explicit acknowledgement of the right of each Party to establish its own labor legislation. There is no harmonization of labor laws. Ministerial Council No supranational authorities were instituted. The Ministerial Council is the highest authority. No supranational authorities were instituted. Decisions of domestic labor tribunals or sub judice matters are not reviewed. Decisions of domestic labor tribunals or sub judice matters are not reviewed.

6. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 6 LABOR PRINCIPLES NAALC LABOR PRINCIPLES 1. Freedom of association 2. The right to bargain collectively 3. The right to strike 4. Prohibition of forced labor 5. Labor protection for children and young persons 6. Minimum employment standards (minimum wage and overtime pay) 7. Elimination of employment discrimination 8. Equal pay for women and men 9. Prevention of occupational injuries and illnesses 10. Compensation in cases of occupational injuries and illnesses 11. Protection of migrant workers. Go bacK

7. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 7 NAALC Provides channels to prevent conflict and to understand labor law differences Provides channels to prevent conflict and to understand labor law differences. Establishes the Commission for Labor Cooperation, an institutional structure for administration and operation of the NAALC: Ministerial Council and Secretariat. National Administrative Offices of each Party

8. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 8 NAALC: Institutional Structure Commission for Labor Cooperation MinisterialCouncil Secretariat National Administrative Offices

9. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 9 NAALC: Cooperative Activities Projects with a positive impact in labor partners: workshops, training courses, technical assistance. Projects with a positive impact in labor partners: workshops, training courses, technical assistance. Exchange of best practices in health and safety, promotion of employment, among other issues. Exchange of best practices in health and safety, promotion of employment, among other issues. Social participation: involvement of union and business representatives, academia and NGOs of the three countries. Social participation: involvement of union and business representatives, academia and NGOs of the three countries.

10. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 10 Labor Cooperation Results 1994-2007 95 cooperative activities among the three countries. 95 cooperative activities among the three countries.

11. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 11 NAALC: Dialogue stages and social participation Public Communications Technical Consultations Ministerial Consultations Evaluation Committee of Experts Arbitral Panel

12. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 12 NAALC Public communications: 36 have been presented in thirteen years. Public communications: 36 have been presented in thirteen years. Ministerial Consultations: Since 1994, Labor Ministers have endorsed eight agreements resolving consultations. Ministerial Consultations: Since 1994, Labor Ministers have endorsed eight agreements resolving consultations. The NAALC promotes dialogue and cooperation. The NAALC promotes dialogue and cooperation. Collaboration and communication have allowed for the resolution of differences through cooperation and exchanges of information among the three countries. Collaboration and communication have allowed for the resolution of differences through cooperation and exchanges of information among the three countries.

13. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 13 NAALC: Public communications 1994-2007

14. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 14 NAALC 1994 - 2007 Privileging dialogue and cooperation Privileging dialogue and cooperation in every moment has deactivated conflict. Different expectations on the actual scope of the Agreement are expressed through pressures to change labor laws, to change labor tribunals decisions, to substitute domestic bodies responsible for the enforcement of labor law or to enforce law extra-territorially. Different expectations on the actual scope of the Agreement are expressed through pressures to change labor laws, to change labor tribunals decisions, to substitute domestic bodies responsible for the enforcement of labor law or to enforce law extra-territorially. The NAALC cooperative activities have fostered a better understanding of labor legislation and labor markets in North America, with an active social participation. The NAALC cooperative activities have fostered a better understanding of labor legislation and labor markets in North America, with an active social participation. It has provided dialogue channels for the Ministers of Labor of the three countries. It has provided dialogue channels for the Ministers of Labor of the three countries.

15. El Acuerdo de Cooperación Laboral de América del Norte: Perspectiva de México 15 The North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation: The Mexican Perspective Workshop on Labor Dimension of FTAs and Regional Integration Processes Claudia Anel Valencia Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social, MEXICO Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago July 10, 2007.