Bureau of International Labor Affairs

An estimated 670 million people—8.4% of the world’s population—live on less than $2.15 a day. This stark reality underscores the urgent need to accelerate poverty reduction efforts. Extreme poverty fundamentally undermines individuals' ability to exercise their human rights, including the right to work in just and favorable conditions. Poverty and labor exploitation are closely linked. When families lack access to decent work, both adults and children can become trapped in cycles of exploitation just to survive. Strong social protections—including education, healthcare, and unemployment support—are essential to break this cycle and build more resilient communities. That's why our Global Accelerator Lab Project with the ILO holds so much potential to drive lasting change. GALAB works in six countries to strengthen and expand social protection coverage. One example: In Nigeria’s Ondo State, the GALAB project brought together government agencies and community leaders to strategize how to update the state’s social register and expand health insurance enrollment, ensuring more vulnerable families receive this critical support. By expanding access to these vital safety nets, the GALAB project is supporting countries in achieving their commitments to eradicate child labor, forced labor, human trafficking, and modern slavery—helping to break cycles of exploitation and build a future of decent work for all. Explore how GALAB’s strategy can inspire broader efforts to strengthen social protections worldwide. #EndPoverty https://bit.ly/3A5LQIO

Through strong labor provisions in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), we help workers realize real collective bargaining. We do this through collaborative engagement with the government of Mexico, unions and employers through targeted technical assistance, and through the implementation of the Rapid Response Mechanism—an innovative USMCA tool that allows governments to sanction specific workplaces that do not comply with national laws on freedom of association or collective bargaining. Check out the story of a group of workers at a Goodyear facility in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, who fought to have a voice at work and see how U.S. Department of Labor is advancing labor rights through #USMCA #Mexico. Watch the full story here: https://bit.ly/488nniH A través de fuertes disposiciones laborales en el Tratado México-Estados Unidos-Canadá (T-MEC), ayudamos a los trabajadores a realizar una negociación colectiva real. Para ello, colaboramos con el Gobierno de México, los sindicatos y los empleadores, prestamos asistencia técnica específica y aplicamos el Mecanismo de Respuesta Rápida, una innovadora herramienta del T-MEC que permite a los Gobiernos sancionar a determinados centros de trabajo que no cumplan la legislación nacional en relación con la libertad de asociación o la negociación colectiva. Vea la historia de un grupo de trabajadores de una planta de Goodyear en San Luis Potosí, México, que lucharon para tener una voz en el trabajo y vea cómo U.S. Department of Labor está avanzando los derechos laborales a través del #TMEC #Mexico. Mira la historia completa aquí: https://bit.ly/488nniH

Our #LaborAttaché in Guatemala, Deborah Martierrez, was on the scene last week at the Central America Donors Forum and Good Jobs Summit meeting with donors, governments and employers on strategies to strengthen labor rights and expand good jobs. Deborah plays a critical role in our ability to advocate for workers’ rights and promote good jobs in Central America. ILAB’s labor attaché program places ILAB staff in key countries to partner directly with local workers, government officials and the business community to improve working conditions, job quality and respect for workers’ rights. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Ypp9Zk #LaborDiplomacy

ILAB’s Thea Lee participated in a World Food Forum event hosted by the FAO on empowering youth to end child labor in agriculture. Lee stressed the importance of promoting #WorkerVoice and a broader labor strategy as part of efforts to better protect and empower youth working in agricultural #SupplyChains.

The U.S. and Brazil, as part of the Partnership for Workers’ Rights, are proud to be co-funders of Regional Initiative Latin America and the Carribean Free of Child Labour (RILAC), the important regional initiative to combat #ChildLabor in Latin America and the Caribbean. RILAC turns 10 this year, and ILAB’s own Tanya Andrade was on hand in Brasilia to mark this important milestone and help build further inroads for collaboration in the region. #Partners4WorkerRights https://lnkd.in/e8aH-ri6

We were proud to represent the U.S. Department of Labor at the plenary panel during the Central America Donors Forum and discuss the importance that worker organizing plays in building a strong, resilient democracy. We also engaged with philanthropic organizations investing in the region and identified the connections between advancing workers’ rights, democracy, rule of law, equity, inclusion and development. We look forward to identifying ways to integrate labor across other programming in the region. Democratic practices grow stronger when workers have a voice in the workplace and the freedom to form unions and bargain collectively. Workers with good jobs contribute to a stable economy and build resilient communities. At our Good Jobs Summit with Pan American Development Foundation, we heard from workers, government representatives and employers in Northern Central America about the importance of social dialogue for creating good jobs and promoting stability, democracy, and prosperity in the region as well as reducing irregular migration. We look forward to building on our partnerships in the region to advance labor rights and expand opportunities for good jobs with responsible businesses, and advance Central America Forward. Many thanks to Guatemala’s Minister of Labor Miriam Roquel for a productive meeting! To grow good jobs and advance labor rights, we need strong labor rights enforcement. After such a productive week, we are excited for the partnerships and progress ahead! #CADF2024 #CentralAmericaForward #UnitedforProsperity #UnidadPorProsperidad

On #IndigenousPeoplesDay, we honor the 370 million indigenous people worldwide and recognize the importance of upholding their labor rights. While they make up 5% of the global population, indigenous people account for 15% of those living in poverty. These groups are often particularly vulnerable to labor abuses such as forced labor and child labor. Our programming recognizes these risks. For example, our Una Cosecha Justa project in Mexico aims to increase protections for workers and reduce the risk of child labor, forced labor and other labor rights violations among indigenous and migrant workers in the chile pepper and tomato sectors. We continue to celebrate the diverse and proud cultures indigenous groups represent the world over, while staunchly defending their dignity at work. https://lnkd.in/epP5swaA

When we help raise labor standards in Mexico’s automotive sector, wages and working conditions rise, leveling the playing field for U.S. #auto workers. We are proud to partner with the government of Mexico in its efforts to strengthen labor rights to protect workers and promote acceptable working conditions in the sector. An independent evaluation by DevTech Systems, Inc. found our technical assistance in the sector has successfully: ✅ Strengthened labor law enforcement through enhancing labor inspections, strengthening institutional coordination, and proactively addressing labor law violations; ✅ Improved employers’ compliance with labor laws, including through support for proactive measures to prevent violations; and ✅ Enhanced the capacity of workers, unions, and civil society to engage on the labor reform protections and raised workers’ awareness of their labor rights. The evaluation provides recommendations to build on this success and ensure our technical assistance has an even greater impact in the automotive sector. Read the report and explore other resources here: https://lnkd.in/ewUH4UYT

Today, on International #DayOfTheGirl, we're proud to spotlight Ekram Siraj, a 17-year-old changemaker from Ethiopia. As a member of the Federal Child Parliament and chairperson of the Environmental Protection Committee in Addis Ababa's Child Parliament, Ekram embodies this year's theme: "Girls' vision for the future." Ekram, who aspires to become a doctor, recently participated in our She Thrives Project with CARE, contributing her insights to shape strategies for accelerating the implementation of Ethiopia's National Action Plan on Child Labor. Her involvement underscores the critical importance of including adolescent girls in decisions that affect their lives and futures. According to Ekram, the biggest challenges facing girls in Ethiopia today include gender-based violence, limited access to education, early marriage and child labor, particularly in domestic work. Despite these obstacles, Ekram, and many girls like her, remain deeply motivated to learn and achieve their goals. We asked her to share her thoughts on cultural beliefs about girls, the importance of self-confidence, and her vision for improving girls' lives and addressing child labor. Watch to hear her insights firsthand. To learn more about the She Thrives Project and its work to create lasting change for girls in Ethiopia, visit https://lnkd.in/e4KgJmdV

Good jobs help build prosperous, resilient and democratic societies. Thanks to our partners in government, business and worker organizations for sharing your insights and ideas to create good jobs in Northern Central America this week at our #GoodJobs Summit with the Pan American Development Foundation.