CANADA-CARICOM TRADE AGREEMENT:

BENEFITS OF LABOUR COOPERATION PROVISIONS

Labour cooperation provisions in the context of a Canada-CARICOM Trade Agreement would

provide an opportunity to work together on labour issues, while demonstrating to stakeholders
that trade liberalization and the protection of labour rights can go hand-in-hand.

Canada’s approach is not burdensome

A cooperative approach is key to Canada’s model
□ Canada is committed to helping its trade partners meet
the labour provision obligations through technical
cooperation. Canada is currently providing technical
assistance funding to the Caribbean region to support
capacity-building projects on labour matters.
□ Labour cooperation provisions would only strengthen
this cooperation and would take into account the
diversity and different levels of development among
CARICOM members.
□ Labour cooperation provisions would not obligate the
harmonization of labour laws.
□ Labour cooperation provisions would be based on the
implementation of labour rights that CARICOM members
and Canada have already committed to through
domestic laws, the International Labour Organization’s
1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights
at Work, and other international obligations.

Protecting labour rights is relevant to trade

Monetary Assessments are an important
component of our cooperative approach
□ Unlike other countries, Canada does not use trade
sanctions in its agreements to address non-compliance
on labour issues. Any monetary assessments would be
used to strengthen capacity in the partner countries to
address labour enforcement challenges.
□ Labour standards constitute a source of competitive
advantage for companies in an increasingly challenging
world market.
□ Labour cooperation provisions would signal the
importance of not weakening labour obligations to
benefit trade or investment.

□ Monetary assessments would not substitute domestic

processes and would not be directed at individual
businesses.

Canada is interested in discussing labour cooperation provisions that are mutually beneficial. In our discussions with other
countries, we have found that we can work together to negotiate provisions that are “win-win” for the Parties.

CARI‐CAN/7(2a/CN/INF1) 2010‐04‐23