Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement

Chapter 16 - Labour

Article 1601: Affirmations

The Parties affirm their obligations as members of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and their commitments to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998) and its Follow-Up as well as their continuing respect for each other’s Constitution and laws.

Article 1602: Objectives

The Parties wish to build on their respective international commitments, strengthen their cooperation on labour and in particular:

(a) improve working conditions and living standards in each Party's territory;

(b) promote their commitment to the internationally recognized labour principles and rights;

(c) promote compliance with and effective enforcement by each Party of its labour laws;

(d) promote social dialogue on labour matters among workers and employers, their respective workers’ and employers’ organizations, and governments.

(e) pursue cooperative labour-related activities on the basis of mutual benefit;

(f) strengthen the capacity of the ministries responsible for labour affairs and other institutions responsible for administering and enforcing labour laws in their territories; and

(g) foster full and open exchange of information between such ministries and institutions in regard to labour laws and its application in each Party’s territory.

Article 1603: Obligations

In order to further the foregoing objectives, the Parties´ mutual obligations are set out in the Labour Cooperation Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Peru (LCA) that addresses, inter alia:

(a) general obligations concerning the internationally recognized labour principles and rights that are to be embodied in each Party’s labour laws;

(b) derogation from domestic labour laws in order to encourage trade or investment;

(c) effective enforcement of labour laws through appropriate government action, private rights of action, procedural guarantees, public information and awareness;

(d) institutional mechanisms to oversee the implementation of the LCA, such as a Ministerial Council and National Administration Offices to receive and review public communications on specified labour law matters and to enable cooperative activities to further the objectives of the LCA;

(e) general and ministerial consultations regarding the implementation of the LCA and its obligations; and

(f) independent review panels to hold hearings and make determinations regarding alleged non-compliance with the terms of the LCA and, if requested, monetary assessments.