The U.S. Department of Labor has expressed support for the decision by the United States Trade Representative not to accept a petition filed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 regarding workers' rights in China.
Deputy Secretary Steven J. Law noted significant cooperation between the U.S. and China on a number of worker protection issues over the last few years, and pledged to continue to work together to build on the progress that has been made.
"Over the past two years, the Labor Department has worked with the People's Republic of China to strengthen several strategic areas of worker protection: employment standards, migrant workers, pensions, and health and safety – especially mine safety," said Deputy Secretary of Labor Steven J. Law. "What we need is not more reports, but continued engagement by the government of the People's Republic of China on these issues, with active assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor and other agencies."
In June 2004, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and four DOL assistant secretaries visited China. Four letters of understanding were signed by the Department of Labor assistant secretaries with the host government, covering bilateral cooperation through June 2007 in wage and hour administration, private pension oversight, occupational safety and health, and mine safety and health.
As a follow up to signing the LOUs, the two countries have exchanged delegations of professional experts, best practices and information.
