Leveling the Field for American Workers in U.S.-Mexico Trade

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $10,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for one (1) cooperative agreement to reduce wage suppression and other unfair labor practices in key trade sectors in Mexico to allow American workers to compete on a level playing field in trade. The project should collaborate with state governments, the private sector, and worker organizations in key trade sectors in Mexico to:

• Strengthen Labor Law Enforcement: Support state labor authorities to improve enforcement of labor laws and to proactively engage employers and workers on unfair labor practices to promote stronger industrial relations.

• Improve Private Sector Compliance: Provide companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with compliance assistance and clear guidelines to improve compliance with United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) labor obligations.

• Improve Wages and Labor Conditions: Educate Mexican workers in understanding their labor rights, build their collective negotiating capabilities so they have the tools to advocate for competitive wages, fair labor practices, and how to seek remediation when their rights are violated.

The duration of the project will be 54 months from the award date. Applicants may propose a shorter period of performance in line with their proposed strategy.