Public communication CAN 2016-1 (Colombia) – Accepted for review

On July 15, 2016, Canada's National Administrative Office (NAO), established under the Canada-Colombia Agreement on Labour Cooperation (CCOALC), accepted for review Public Communication CAN 2016-1, “Concerning the failure of the Government of Colombia to comply with the Canada-Colombia Agreement on Labour Cooperation.” It was submitted to the NAO on May 20, 2016, by the Canadian Labour Congress and five Colombian labour organizations.

Public Communication CAN 2016-1 alleges that the Government of Colombia failed to meet its obligations under the labour agreement, particularly in the areas of:

• freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining;
• enforcement of labour laws;
• derogation from labour laws in order to encourage trade and foreign investment; and
• timely access to labour justice.

The NAO has determined that Public Communication CAN 2016-1 meets all of the eligibility and technical requirements set out in Canada's Guidelines for Filing Public Communications and will review the complaint in accordance with established procedures. The NAO has up to 180 days from July 15, 2016, to assess this Public Communication and prepare a public report.

The CCOALC came into effect in 2011 and is a parallel agreement to the Canada‑Colombia Free Trade Agreement. The Public Communication process, included under the CCOALC, allows nationals (Canadian permanent residents and citizens), Canadian enterprises or organizations to voice their concerns to governments about the enforcement of labour laws in the agreement’s partner country and provides a formal channel for governments to review these concerns.

Canada’s NAO is housed within the Labour Program of Employment and Social Development Canada.

For information:
National Administrative Office
Labour Program, Employment and Social Development Canada
Phase II, Place du Portage
165 Hôtel de Ville Street, Gatineau, QC, K1A 0J2

Email: CNAO-BANC@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca