US asks trade panel to probe Guatemala labor rights

US Trade Representative Ron Kirk asked an international commission to investigate Guatemala’s alleged failure to enforce worker protections.

This would be the first labor case brought by the US against a trade-accord partner.

“We expect to see the government of Guatemala take concrete actions to improve its labor-law enforcement to protect the rights of workers,” Kirk said. “While Guatemala has taken some positive steps over the past several months, its actions and proposals have been insufficient to address what we view as systemic failures.”

Original source: Bloomberg