USG-FUNDED PROJECT LAUNCHES WORKER RIGHTS CENTERS

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