[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 66870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27255]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade 
Agreement; Notice of Extension of the Period of Review for Submission 
2012-01 (Honduras)

AGENCY: Office of Trade and Labor Affairs, Bureau of International 
Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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    The Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) in the Bureau of 
International Labor Affairs (ILAB) of the U.S. Department of Labor 
(DOL) has determined that an extension of time is required for its 
review of Submission 2012-01 concerning Honduras (the 
Submission) filed under Chapter Sixteen (the Labor Chapter) of the 
Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement 
(CAFTA-DR).
    On March 26, 2012, OTLA received the Submission from the American 
Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) 
and 26 Honduran Federations, Trade Unions and Civil Society 
Organizations. It alleges action or inaction by the Government of 
Honduras that, if substantiated, could be inconsistent with Honduras' 
commitments under the Labor Chapter.
    OTLA accepted the Submission for review on May 14, 2012 (77 FR 
30329 (2012)), in accordance with its published Procedural Guidelines 
(71 FR 76694 (2006)).
    Acceptance triggers a 180-day fact-finding and review period that 
results in the issuance of a public report of any findings and 
recommendations. The objective of fact-finding and review is to gather 
information so that OTLA can better understand the case and publicly 
report on the U.S. Government's views regarding whether the Government 
of Honduras' action or inaction was consistent with the obligations set 
forth in the Labor Chapter. The public report will include a summary of 
the review process, as well as any findings and recommendations.
    As part of its ongoing review, OTLA sent a delegation to Honduras 
from July 9-21, 2012, to gather information on issues raised by the 
Submission. The OTLA delegation met with representatives from the 
Government of Honduras, employers, workers, and other groups with 
information relevant to the Submission.
    According to the Procedural Guidelines, if OTLA determines 
circumstances require an extension of time, it can delay the report's 
publication (Procedural Guidelines, Sec. H.7). OTLA has determined that 
an extension of time is required to complete its review due to:
     The scope of the submission, which covers seventeen 
distinct fact patterns in three different economic sectors and in three 
different regions of Honduras;
     The scope of the labor law violations alleged, which cover 
freedom of association, the right to organize, the right to bargain 
collectively, child labor, and acceptable conditions of work, as well 
as threats and violence against trade unionists; and
     The large amounts of information received from the 
government and stakeholders.
    The extension will also permit OTLA to incorporate into its report, 
as relevant, more recent information related to the issues in the 
submission. OTLA will continue to give this matter the highest priority 
in order to complete the review as expeditiously as possible.

DATES: Effective Date: November 2, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Schoepfle, Director, OTLA, 
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S-5303, 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-4900 (this is not a toll-
free number).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on November 2, 2012.
Carol Pier,
Acting Deputy Undersecretary, International Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-27255 Filed 11-6-12; 8:45 am]
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