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ARTICLE · 25 JUNE 2020

CUSMA: Labour Rights And Provisions After NAFTA

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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On July 1, 2020, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) will be coming into force. This agreement will effectively replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

GlobalEmployment and HR
Anna Abbott
Anna Abbott
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On July 1, 2020, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) will be coming into force. This agreement will effectively replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Unlike NAFTA's provisions on labour, which were included in a side letter, CUSMA includes a comprehensive chapter—Chapter 23—on labour within its body, which has the effect of subjecting the labour provisions to the CUSMA dispute resolution procedure.

LABOUR RIGHTS

The labour chapter builds on the international labour rights set out in the 1998 International Labour Organization (ILO)'s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. The chapter includes commitments to ensure that national laws and policies provide protection of the fundamental principles and rights at work, including the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining and the elimination of child labour, forced or compulsory labour and discrimination in respect of employment occupation. The chapter

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