Negotiating and implementing international trade-related labour agreements

On this page


Canada aims to address the labour dimensions of economic integration and to promote respect for fundamental labour principles and rights through the development and implementation of:

  • trade-related Labour Cooperation Agreements (LCAs), and
  • Labour Chapters of Free Trade Agreements (LCFTAs)

These agreements and chapters seek to improve working conditions and living standards in the signatory countries, and to protect and enhance basic workers' rights. Under these Agreements, participating countries commit to:

  • effectively enforce their own labour legislation
  • cooperate on labour matters, and
  • promote certain key labour principles

Labour Cooperation Agreements

Labour chapters of free trade agreements

In addition to implementing these existing agreements and chapters, the Labour Program works closely with Global Affairs Canada on other ongoing free trade agreement negotiations.

Guidelines for filing public communications

Each of Canada's LCAs and LCFTAs allow for complaints - technically known as "public communications" – to be submitted to signatory countries.

These guidelines describe the procedures and criteria required by the Canadian National Administrative Office for the submission, acceptance and review of public communications on labour law matters pertaining to the LCAs or the LCFTAs.

These guidelines apply to all past, present and future LCAs and LCFTAs but do not apply to any MOUs.

Guidelines for filing public communications

Canada-Mexico Facility-Specific Rapid Response Labour Mechanism

Guidelines for Denial of Rights claims

These guidelines describe the procedures and criteria required by the Canadian National Administrative Office. These guidelines apply to the submission, acceptance and review of claims with respect to an alleged Denial of Rights under the Canada-Mexico Facility-Specific Rapid Response Labour Mechanism. The latter is set out in Annex 31-B of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.

Learn more about CUSMA.

Guidelines for Denial of Rights claims under the Canada-Mexico Rapid Response Labour Mechanism

Claims submitted

Fraenkische Industrial Pipes

On March 11, 2023, a claim was submitted by Unifor along with the Sindicato Independiente Nacional De Trabajadores Y Trabajadoras De La Industria Automotriz (SINTTIA) against the company Fraenkische Industrial Pipes México S.A., at its facility in Silao, Guanajuato. The claim alleges that workers at the facility are being denied the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

On March 13, 2023, the Canadian National Administrative Office (NAO) notified the submitters that the claim was accepted for review.

During the review process, NAO officials undertook on-site visits, interviews, and engaged in discussions with all parties concerned in the complaint. However, given the company’s willingness to address the demands put forward in the complaint by the submitters, the NAO facilitated a dialogue between the concerned parties in order to reach an agreement.

Discussions with the parties were effective and led to concrete and positive outcomes, that is:

  • the company issued a public statement in which it committed to respect the effective exercise of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights of Fraenkische workers
  • the company reinstated three workers who supported SINTTIA with back pay as part of the submitters’ proposal for remediation
  • the union election vote by Fraenkische workers that took place on June 26, 2023 was conducted in a fair manner and its result was confirmed by the federal labour judge on July 11, 2023. SINTTIA won the vote and is now the majority representative union for Fraenkische workers.

In light of these developments, the NAO considers that the allegations were addressed and has closed the case against Fraenkische.

Online form to report labour issues related to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)

To provide confidential information about labour issues in CUSMA partner countries, please complete this online form.

Page details

Date modified: