A US Department of Labour report has raised significant concerns about workers' rights and labour law enforcement in Peru's textile and apparel sectors - leading to new questions regarding the labour rights record of a key member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
The report, released under the labour chapter of the US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA), in particular raises questions regarding the right to freedom of association in the South American nation, especially for those workers employed on consecutive short-term contracts.
It responds to claims filed by the International Labor Rights Forum, Perú Equidad and seven Peruvian worker rights organizations that allege Peru's law governing employment contracts for non-traditional export (NTE) sectors (which include agricultural products) is incompatible with freedom of association.
