U.S. Seeks Consultations with Bahrain Over Potential FTA Labor Violations
The U.S. requested consultations with Bahrain over concerns about labor practices in violation of the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. Trade Representative announced May 7. The consultations stem from a December 2012 Department of Labor report, conducted after the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) alleged Bahrain “acted inconsistently with its labor obligations under the FTA in response to civil unrest and national strikes in early 2011,” USTR said. The DOL report said that Bahrain took import steps to address labor issues, but the U.S. should still request FTA labor consultations to develop a plan with Bahrain to “address remaining concerns,” USTR said.
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Acting Secretary of Labor Seth Harris said in a statement he hopes the consultations will produce a “concrete plan of action … that will strengthen labor protections in Bahrain and help prevent violations of workers rights.”
House Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin, D-Mich., along with other Democrats on the committee, said he supported the move. “… while some action has been taken it is vital that Bahrain agree to consultations to develop a concrete action plan to address remaining concerns,” Levin said in a statement (here). “The administration is taking an important step by using our trade agreement with Bahrain to address workplace discrimination and defend the rights of workers.”