Review Report of Public Communication CAN 2003-1 - Table of Contents

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Executive Summary

List of Acronyms

1.  Introduction

2.  Review Process

3.  Background

3.1  Information from the Submitters

3.1.a  Overview
3.1.b  Issues Raised by the Communication

3.1.1  Freedom of Association

3.1.1.a  Matamoros Garment
3.1.1.b  Tarrant México

3.1.2  Minimum Employment Standards

3.1.2.a  Matamoros Garment
3.1.2.b  Tarrant México

3.1.3  Occupational Health and Safety

3.1.3.a  Matamoros Garment
3.1.3.b  Tarrant México

3.1.4  The Reluctance of Workers to Seek the Assistance of Mexican Authorities

3.1.5  Evidence of a Persistent Pattern

3.1.5.a  Kukdong International México
3.1.5.b  Previous Public Communications

3.2  Information from Other Parties

3.2.1  Mexican NAO

3.2.1.a  Matamoros Garment
3.2.1.b  Tarrant México

3.2.2  Matamoros Garment
3.2.3  Sindicato Francisco Villa
3.2.4  PUMA AG
3.2.5  Tarrant Apparel Group (TAG)
3.2.6  Levi Strauss & Company
3.2.7  Tommy Hilfiger
3.2.8  The Worker Rights Consortium
3.2.9  The United Steelworkers of America

4.  Mexican Labour Law

4.1  Overview

4.2  Freedom of Association

4.2.1  Registration of Unions

4.2.1.a  Procedures
4.2.1.b  Timeliness of Decision
4.2.1.c  Notification of Decision
4.2.1.d  Grounds upon which Registration Can Be Denied
4.2.1.e  Correction of Technical Errors in Applications for Registration
4.2.1.f  Appeal Process

4.2.2  Workers' Choice of Union Representative

4.2.2.a  Forming a Union and Engaging in Collective Bargaining
4.2.2.b  Changing Union Representative

4.2.3  Union Self-Governance and Accountability to Union Members

4.2.3.a  Access to Collective Contracts

4.2.4  Protection against Interference in the Exercise of Freedom of Association

4.2.4.a  Just Cause Protection
4.2.4.b  Regulation of Collective Layoffs and Dismissals
4.2.4.c  Prohibitions against Coercion

4.2.5  Enforcement

4.3  Employment Standards

4.3.1  Minimum Wage
4.3.2  Payment of Wages
4.3.3  Hours of Work and Overtime
4.3.4  Layoffs and Severance Pay
4.3.5  Waivers of Rights
4.3.6  Enforcement

4.4  Occupational Safety and Health

4.4.1  Occupational Safety and Health Legislation and Regulations

4.4.1.a  Prevention of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
4.4.1.b  Medical Services
4.4.1.c  Other Norms

4.4.2  Enforcement Procedures

4.4.2.a  Inspection Procedures
4.4.2.b  Health and Safety Committees
4.4.2.c  Information Systems and Experience Rating

4.5  Due Process

4.5.1  Procedural Protections
4.5.2  Independence and Impartiality of Decision Maker

5.  Analysis and Findings

5.1  Freedom of Association

5.1.1  Union Registration Procedures
5.1.2  Impartiality
5.1.3  Protections against Interference
5.1.4  Information Available to Workers Represented by a Union

5.2  Occupational Safety and Health
5.3  Minimum Employment Standards

6.  Recommendation