IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 118 

Expressing support for the designation of February 14 of each year as 

International Flower Workers’ Day, in acknowledgment of workers in 

flower-producing countries and to demonstrate the commitment of the 

United States to practices that respect labor rights in other countries. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 13, 2017 

Mr. ELLISON (for himself, Mr. MCGOVERN, and Mr. POCAN) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period 

to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 

concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of February 14 of 

each year as International Flower Workers’ Day, in acknowledgment of workers in flower-producing countries 

and to demonstrate the commitment of the United States 

to practices that respect labor rights in other countries. 

Whereas Colombia is the second largest exporter of flowers 

worldwide, with an industry value of $1,300,000,000; 

Whereas 77 percent of the flowers exported from Colombia 

are imported into the United States; 


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•HRES 118 IH 

Whereas Colombian flower workers and flower workers in 

other flower-producing countries face daily health risks 

from contact with pesticides; 

Whereas three of the pesticides used in close proximity to Colombian flower workers have been found to be extremely 

toxic, and others have been found to be carcinogenic and 

are restricted for use in the United States; 

Whereas such pesticides can cause serious health impacts, including blood and skin cancer, and the repetitive motions 

involved in flower cultivation, picking, and processing can 

lead to other health conditions; 

Whereas many female flower workers in Colombia must take 

pregnancy tests and use birth control in order to gain or 

maintain employment, reportedly due to their proximity 

to pesticides that can cause birth defects and health risks 

for pregnant women; 

Whereas the labor force of the Colombian flower-production 

industry is predominantly female, one-third of whom are 

single mothers; 

Whereas Colombian flower workers work from 12 to 22 hours 

per day, six days a week, from Valentine’s Day to Mother’s Day, while earning pay that is insufficient to allow 

them to rise out of poverty; 

Whereas workloads and production goals for Colombian flower workers have progressively increased over the years 

since the beginning of the flower-production industry in 

Colombia in the mid-1960s; 

Whereas Colombian flower workers have been denied their 

rights to collectively organize, bargain, or strike; 


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•HRES 118 IH 

Whereas the Colombian Action Plan Related to Labor Rights, 

signed on April 7, 2011, was designed to improve labor 

conditions for workers in Colombia across various sectors; 

Whereas the American Federation of Labor and Congress of 

Industrial Organizations has suggested revisions to the 

plan in order to ensure worker safety in Colombia; and 

Whereas the commemoration of International Flower Workers’ Day would acknowledge and reaffirm the commitment of the United States to labor rights: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of International 

3 Flower Workers’ Day, in acknowledgment of workers 

4 in flower-producing countries and to demonstrate 

5 the commitment of the United States to practices 

6 that respect labor rights in other countries; 

7 (2) urges the governments of Colombia and 

8 other flower-producing countries to investigate and 

9 respond to the social and environmental impacts of 

10 the flower-producing industry in those countries; 

11 (3) notes that the Colombian Action Plan Re12 lated to Labor Rights, signed on April 7, 2011, has 

13 not adequately strengthened or improved working 

14 conditions in Colombia as outlined or intended by 

15 the plan; 


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•HRES 118 IH 

1 (4) recognizes that Colombian flower workers 

2 should not suffer harm from free trade, but should 

3 share in its economic benefits; 

4 (5) supports the elimination of exploitative 

5 labor practices, whether foreign or domestic, as a 

6 key policy goal of the United States; 

7 (6) encourages the development and implemen8 tation of new measures to uphold and fulfill the 

9 strong labor commitments made under the United 

10 States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement; and 

11 (7) supports the creation of procedures for ade12 quate followup of such new measures, with participa13 tion from the flower-production industry as well as 

14 other affected industries, such as palm oil produc15 tion, sugar production, mining, and port manage16 ment. 

Æ 


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