Workers' Rights Centers

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Region
Country
Project Duration
December 2012
-
December 2015
Funding and Year
FY
2012
: USD
1,500,000

This technical cooperation project aims to strengthen the capacity of workers to file complaints/cases for labor law violations. The Grantee will implement, in partnership with USDOL, a project whose overarching objective is to raise awareness of and improve workers’ ability to protect and claim their labor rights in Colombia.

The Problem

The U.S. – Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) obligates the Government of Colombia to effectively enforce its labor laws, reaffirm its obligation as a member of the International Labor Organization (ILO), and adopt and maintain in statutes, regulations, and practices, the rights as stated in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-Up (1998). In the lead up to ratification of the TPA, on April 7, 2011, the Governments of the United States and Colombia reached agreement on an ambitious and comprehensive Colombian Action Plan Related to Labor Rights (Action Plan). Under the Action Plan the Government of Colombia committed to a series of concrete measures to protect the rights of workers. 

Our Strategy

The expected outcomes from successfully meeting these objectives include:

  • Workers better understand the scope and applicability of relevant labor and criminal laws.
  • Workers better understand the procedural and documentation requirements to initiate inspections, investigations, and/or seek legal remedies.
  • The Ministry of Labor, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and other relevant authorities receive well-supported and well-articulated claims.
  • Strengthened capacity of local organizations to educate and provide advice to workers about the scope and applicability of relevant labor and criminal laws and provide legal services to assist with the procedural and documentation requirements to initiate inspections, investigations, and/or seek remedies. 
Grantee:
Escuela Nacional Sindical (ENS)
Contact Information:
(202) 693-4900 / Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA)
Tags:
Trade
Worker Rights