Questionable Safety for Guatemalan and Nicaraguan Migrant Workers

Declarations making it easier to protect the rights of Guatemalan and Nicaraguan citizens who work in the United States were recently signed by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Guatemalan Ambassador Francisco Villagrán De Léon, and Nicaraguan Ambassador Francisco Campbell.

 

 

"Individuals from Guatemala and Nicaragua make important contributions to the U.S. economy, and their workplace rights should be protected," Solis said. "I am pleased that the U.S., Guatemalan, and Nicaraguan governments are working together to help make that happen." (WCxKit)

 

 

According to a report from OSHA, the declarations enable the regional enforcement offices of the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Wage and Hour Division to cooperate with local Guatemalan and Nicaraguan embassies and consulates to distribute information to migrant workers about U.S. health, safety, and wage laws. Training will also be provided to migrant workers and their employers.

 

 

In conjunction with the declarations, letters of agreement were signed by the two agencies. The Wage and Hour Division is now able to protect migrant workers in low-wage industries such as hospitality and agriculture. OSHA continues efforts to improve workplace safety and health conditions while simultaneously providing outreach and assistance to Spanish-speaking workers and employers. (WCxKit)

 

 

Additionally, through these agencies, the Labor Department is better able to identify problems experienced by migrant workers and to target labor law enforcement efforts. OSHA, for example, plans to provide a toll-free telephone number staffed by multilingual operators who are ready, day and night, to receive calls from migrant workers about safety and health issues.