Levin: Addressing Worker Rights, Violence and Impunity in Colombia a Work in Progress

WASHINGTON, DC – Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) made the following statement today regarding the U.S.-Colombia FTA:

"The Administration has achieved in its discussions with the Colombia government a number of important commitments to address serious issues regarding worker rights, violence and impunity, but more work needs to be done.

"Some of that work needs to be undertaken in Colombia through concrete changes in laws and practices on the agreed upon reforms and actions and within the stated timelines.

"Additional work needs to be done on specific provisions. One key example is the need to more clearly spell out how regulations will be changed by June 15 to end the widespread use of so-called cooperatives - instead of direct hiring – that have taken away the basic rights of hundreds of thousands of workers in a vast number of fields. Another need is to be certain that the way the issue of essential services is addressed will truly remedy the defects cited in the State Department and International Labor Organization (ILO) reports.

"The Administration has importantly included timelines and acknowledged that concrete action is required to remedy these long-standing concerns.

"This active process allows us to provide oversight, to understand the changes as they are made, evaluate progress and short-comings and to highlight their importance to real workers' rights in Colombia.

"In my meeting with President Santos in Colombia a few months ago, he expressed his commitment and willingness to address these long-standing outstanding issues and to vigorous implementation of that commitment.

"The U.S. – Colombia relationship is an important one in many respects – strategically and economically. It is also important for both nations that trade agreements be shaped to spread the benefits of expanded trade more widely -- important for nations as they build and strengthen a middle class and for our nation to continue efforts to sustain a strong middle class."