WASHINGTON - Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Charles Rangel, today made the following statements regarding the decision to extend the implementation period for the Guatemala Enforcement Plan on Labor Rights:
“Many of us in Congress opposed CAFTA nine years ago because it included a weak commitment to ‘enforce your own law’ rather than ensuring that the parties adopt, maintain and enforce laws consistent with international standards," said Rep. Levin. “CAFTA passed after heated consideration and by just two votes in the House. Then, six years ago, USTR was asked to file a case against Guatemala for failing to even meet the ‘enforce your own law’ standard in the agreement. Working conditions in Guatemala appear to be no better today than when I saw them firsthand a decade ago. It must be made entirely clear to the Government of Guatemala that this will be the last extension and that it must take the necessary steps to carry out its commitments under the Action Plan and under the CAFTA during this period."
“I am deeply disappointed with the lack of progress to date on the very important issue of worker rights in Guatemala," said Rep. Rangel. “Justice delayed is justice denied, and I call on the Government of Guatemala to honor its commitments, to the United States and to its own people, without further delay."
