Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GUATEMALA1502
2008-12-04 16:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:
USG-FUNDED PROJECT LAUNCHES WORKER RIGHTS CENTERS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0016 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHGT #1502 3391637 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 041637Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6575 INFO RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001502
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL/ILCSR
DOL FOR PCHURCH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB KJUS KDEM PHUM GT
SUBJECT: USG-FUNDED PROJECT LAUNCHES WORKER RIGHTS CENTERS
IN GUATEMALA
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001502
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL/ILCSR
DOL FOR PCHURCH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB KJUS KDEM PHUM GT
SUBJECT: USG-FUNDED PROJECT LAUNCHES WORKER RIGHTS CENTERS
IN GUATEMALA
1. On November 18, NGO Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the
Commission for the Verification of Codes of Conduct in
Guatemala (COVERCO) inaugurated three model Worker Rights
Centers to promote labor rights as part of a DOL-funded
regional project ("Todas y Todos Trabajamos"). The four-year
project, which covers six countries and focuses on legal
services, education, and public awareness, seeks to educate
workers so they can exercise their labor rights through
appropriate legal channels. The project will be implemented
over a period of three years (2008-2011) in Guatemala.
2. According to CRS/Guatemala National Project Coordinator
Walter Paxtor Garcia, CRS has partnered with local
organizations and key actors to establish the Worker Rights
Centers, which will provide information on labor laws and
legal assistance to workers, as well as accompany workers to
the Ministry of Labor and labor courts. All services will be
provided at no cost.
3. The project covers the Departments of Guatemala,
Sacatepequez, and Chimaltenango. It seeks to strengthen the
capacity of local organizations to replicate and sustain the
centers. CRS, in coordination with local implementing
partners, will conduct outreach activities to publicize the
services provided by the centers and to raise awareness of
labor issues. The first center opened in Chimaltenango on
September 8 and the second in Guatemala City the end of
November. An additional center will open in Villa Nueva in
January.
4. Comment: These centers represent an important initiative
that should provide an improved mechanism for workers to
attain justice for violations of their labor rights and help
promote enforcement of labor laws, while reducing the amount
of time spent by the Ministry of Labor and the labor court
system on invalid or undocumented claims.
Lindwall
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL/ILCSR
DOL FOR PCHURCH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB KJUS KDEM PHUM GT
SUBJECT: USG-FUNDED PROJECT LAUNCHES WORKER RIGHTS CENTERS
IN GUATEMALA
1. On November 18, NGO Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the
Commission for the Verification of Codes of Conduct in
Guatemala (COVERCO) inaugurated three model Worker Rights
Centers to promote labor rights as part of a DOL-funded
regional project ("Todas y Todos Trabajamos"). The four-year
project, which covers six countries and focuses on legal
services, education, and public awareness, seeks to educate
workers so they can exercise their labor rights through
appropriate legal channels. The project will be implemented
over a period of three years (2008-2011) in Guatemala.
2. According to CRS/Guatemala National Project Coordinator
Walter Paxtor Garcia, CRS has partnered with local
organizations and key actors to establish the Worker Rights
Centers, which will provide information on labor laws and
legal assistance to workers, as well as accompany workers to
the Ministry of Labor and labor courts. All services will be
provided at no cost.
3. The project covers the Departments of Guatemala,
Sacatepequez, and Chimaltenango. It seeks to strengthen the
capacity of local organizations to replicate and sustain the
centers. CRS, in coordination with local implementing
partners, will conduct outreach activities to publicize the
services provided by the centers and to raise awareness of
labor issues. The first center opened in Chimaltenango on
September 8 and the second in Guatemala City the end of
November. An additional center will open in Villa Nueva in
January.
4. Comment: These centers represent an important initiative
that should provide an improved mechanism for workers to
attain justice for violations of their labor rights and help
promote enforcement of labor laws, while reducing the amount
of time spent by the Ministry of Labor and the labor court
system on invalid or undocumented claims.
Lindwall