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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64216-64217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25535]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

Request for Comments on Labor Capacity-Building Efforts Under the 
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement

AGENCIES:  Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of 
Labor and Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for comments from the public.

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SUMMARY: This notice is a request for comments from the public to 
assist the Secretary of Labor and the United States Trade 
Representative in preparing a report on labor capacity-building efforts 
under Chapter 16 (``the Labor Chapter'') and Annex 16.5 of the 
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement 
(``CAFTA-DR''). Comments are also welcomed on efforts made by the 
CAFTA-DR countries to implement the labor obligations under the Labor 
Chapter and the recommendations contained in a paper entitled, ``The 
Labor Dimension in Central America and the Dominican Republic--Building 
on Progress: Strengthening Compliance and Enhancing Capacity'' (the 
``White Paper''). This report is required under the Dominican Republic-
Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act 
(CAFTA-DR Implementation Act). The reporting function and the 
responsibility for soliciting public comments required under this Act 
were assigned to the Secretary of Labor in consultation with the United 
States Trade Representative (USTR).

DATES: Written comments are due no later than 5 p.m. (EDT) November 10, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: Public comments should be submitted electronically to 
www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-rulemaking portal, docket number DOL 
2014-0005. Comments may also be submitted by mail to: Mr. James Rude, 
Office of Trade and Labor Affairs, Bureau of International Labor 
Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S-
5303, Washington, DC 20210. Comments that are mailed must be received 
by the date indicated for consideration. Also, please note that due to 
security concerns, postal delivery in Washinton, DC may be delayed. 
Therefore, in order to ensure that comments receive full consideration, 
the Department encourages the public to submit comments via the 
internet as indicated above. Please submit only one copy of your 
comments by only one method. Also, please be advised that comments 
received will become a matter of public record and will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided. The Department cautions commenters not to include 
personal information, such as Social Security Numbers, personal 
addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses in their comments as 
such information will become viewable by the public on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. It is each commenter's responsibility to 
safeguard

[[Page 64217]]

his or her information. Comments submitted through http://www.regulations.gov will not include the commenter's email address 
unless the commenter chooses to include that information as part of his 
or her comment. If you are unable to provide submissions by either of 
these means, please contact James Rude (202-693-4806) to arrange for an 
alternative method of submission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Rude, Office of Trade and 
Labor Affairs, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department 
of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S-5303, Washington, DC 
20210. Email: Rude.James@DOL.Gov, Telephone: (202) 693-4806.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background Information

    During the legislative approval process for the CAFTA-DR, the 
Administration and the Congress reached an understanding on the need to 
support labor capacity-building efforts linked to recommendations 
identified in the ``White Paper'' of the Working Group of the Vice 
Ministers Responsible for Trade and Labor in the countries of Central 
America and the Dominican Republic. Appropriations were made available 
from FY 2005 through 2013 to support labor capacity building efforts in 
CAFTA-DR countries. For more information, see the full text of the 
CAFTA-DR at http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/cafta-dr-dominican-republic-central-america-fta/final-text and the 
``White Paper'' at http://www.sice.oas.org/labor/White%20Paper_e.pdf.
    In addition, in December 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) 
published its procedural guidelines for the receipt and review of 
submissions under U.S. Free Trade Agreements, including the CAFTA-DR 
(71 FR 76691 Dec. 21, 2006). Subsequently, pursuant to CAFTA-DR Article 
16.4.2, in November 2008, the United States and CAFTA-DR partner 
countries held the first Labor Affairs Council meeting in San Salvador, 
El Salvador. Since the CAFTA-DR came into force, USDOL's Office of 
Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) has received and accepted three 
submissions under the labor chapter of the CAFTA-DR. OTLA issued a 
public report in January 2009 on its review of a submission regarding 
Guatemala and another in September 2013 regarding the Dominican 
Republic. Another submission regarding Honduras is currently in the 
review process with the public report expected in 2014.
    Under section 403(a) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act, 19 U.S.C. 
4111(a), the President must report biennially to the Congress on the 
progress made by the CAFTA-DR countries in implementing the labor 
obligations and the labor capacity-building provisions found in the 
Labor Chapter and in Annex 16.5, and in implementing the 
recommendations contained in the ``White Paper.'' Section 403(a)(4) 
requires that the President establish a mechanism to solicit public 
comments on the matters described in section 403(a)(3)(D) of the CAFTA-
DR Implementation Act, 19 U.S.C. 4111(a)(4) (listed below in 2).
    By Proclamation, the President delegated the reporting function and 
the responsibility for soliciting public comments under section 403(a) 
of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act, 19 U.S.C. 4111(a), to the Secretary 
of Labor, in consultation with the USTR. Proclamation No. 8272, 73 FR 
38,297 (June 30, 2008). This notice serves to request public comments 
as required by this section.

2. The USDOL Is Seeking Comments on the Following Topics as Required 
Under Section 403(a)(3)(D) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act

    a. Capacity-building efforts by the United States government 
envisaged by Article 16.5 of the CAFTA-DR Labor Chapter and Annex 
16.5;
    b. Efforts by the United States government to facilitate full 
implementation of the ``White Paper'' recommendations; and
    c. Efforts made by the CAFTA-DR countries to comply with Article 
16.5 of the Labor Chapter and Annex 16.5 and to fully implement the 
``White Paper'' recommendations, including progress made by the 
CAFTA-DR countries in affording to workers internationally-
recognized worker rights through improved capacity.

3. Requirements for Submission

    Persons submitting comments must do so in English and must make the 
following note on the first page of their submissions: ``Comments 
regarding the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act.'' In order to be assured 
consideration, comments should be submitted by 5 p.m. (EDT) October 27, 
2014. The Department of Labor encourages commenters to make on-line 
submissions using the www.regulations.gov Web site. When entering this 
site, enter docket number DOL 2014-0005 on the home page and click 
``search.'' The site will provide a search-results page listing all 
documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice 
and click on the link entitled ``Comment Now.'' (For further 
information on using the www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult 
the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on ``How to Use This 
Site'' (found on the left side of the home page)).
    The www.regulations.gov Web site allows users to provide comments 
by filling in a ``Type Comment field,'' or by attaching a document 
using an ``Upload File'' field. The USDOL prefers that uploaded 
submissions be in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the 
submission is in an application other than those two, please indicate 
the name of the application in the ``Type Comment'' field.
    Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic 
submissions; rather include any information that might appear in a 
cover letter in the submission itself. Similarly, to the extent 
possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in 
the same file as the submission itself and not as separate files.
    As noted, USDOL strongly urges submitters to file comments through 
the www.regulations.gov Web site.
    Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public 
inspection. Comments may be viewed on the www.regulations.gov Web site 
by entering the relevant docket number in the search field on the home 
page.

    Signed at Washington, DC, the 16 day of October 2014.
Carol Pier,
Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-25535 Filed 10-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-P
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