The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement has asked the Mexican government to review an alleged denial of workers' rights at Akwel Juarez, a manufacturing facility in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. This request follows a petition filed on October 24, 2024, by the Mexican union Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores y Empleados Especializados C.T.M.
The petition claims that Akwel Juarez refused to acknowledge the union as the representative of its workers or negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. Additionally, it alleges interference with workers' ability to choose their union freely and accuses the employer of firing employees for participating in union activities.
The U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Trade Representative co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee. After finding credible evidence supporting these allegations, they submitted a review request to Mexico under the USMCA’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM).
“Mexican law and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement clearly stipulate that companies must recognize and not interfere with the selection of a workers’ union. What Akwel Juarez did is an egregious violation of these standards,” said Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee. “We look forward to working with the Mexican government to address this matter and safeguard workers’ rights at the plant.”
Ambassador Katherine Tai added, "The Rapid Response Mechanism is once again delivering on the Biden-Harris administration’s promise to hold companies accountable for violations of workers’ labor rights. With over 40,000 workers who have directly benefitted from this tool, today’s action signals to the workers at Akwel that they are not alone in the face of employer interference.” She emphasized collaboration with Mexico's government to resolve ongoing rights denials at Akwel.
Mexico now has 10 days to decide whether to conduct a review and 45 days to investigate and report findings on these claims.
Akwel Juarez produces structural parts for electric vehicles and employs 1,144 workers, with 850 being part of the bargaining unit.
