US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative seek review of alleged denial of labor rights at tire manufacturing facilities in Mexico

News Release

US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative seek review of alleged denial of labor rights at tire manufacturing facilities in Mexico

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested that the government of Mexico review an alleged denial of workers' rights at Hulera Tornel S.A. de C.V., which runs tire manufacturing facilities in Mexico City and Tultitlán, Mexico.

The request follows a Dec. 9, 2024, petition filed by the labor union Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Compañía Hulera Tornel, Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable, de la República Mexicana. The U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Trade Representative co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee.

Filed under the USMCA's Rapid Response Labor Mechanism, the petition alleges the company did not comply with a rubber sector-wide agreement and instead negotiated singular agreements that provide lower contractual benefits for workers regarding hours and days worked, time off for holidays, vacation premium pay, savings fund contributions, the Christmas bonus, the workers' social welfare fund and the company share of social security contributions.

After the Interagency Labor Committee found sufficient and credible evidence supporting the petition's allegations, the U.S. government submitted a request for review to the Mexican government.

"Every Mexican worker in the rubber industry deserves the full benefits negotiated in the sector-wide agreement. Any company attempting to skirt providing these benefits is violating Mexican labor law and the provisions of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement," said Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Mexican government to ensure these workers receive what they are due."

"This marks the third Rapid Response Mechanism case under Mexico's sector-wide agreement for the rubber industry, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the growing awareness among workers about their rights and what this mechanism can do for them when those rights are not respected," said Ambassador Katherine Tai. "The Biden-Harris Administration remains deeply committed to working with the Mexican government to ensure that workers at this facility - and across the rubber sector - are treated with dignity and fairness."

The Mexican government has 10 days to decide whether to conduct a review and 45 days to investigate the claims and present its findings.

Hulera Tornel S.A. de C.V. produces tires for industrial, cargo, off-road, agricultural and passenger vehicles that are exported to the U.S. The company employs over 1,600 workers across the two plants, including 1,070 unionized workers.

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