

Currently released so far... 12453 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AORC
AMGT
APER
AU
AF
AS
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
AFIN
AR
AE
AJ
ADANA
AEMR
AG
ATRN
ADPM
APECO
AGAO
AMED
AX
AM
AL
ADCO
AA
AECL
AADP
ABUD
AMEX
ACAO
ANET
AODE
ASCH
AY
APEC
AID
AORG
ASEAN
AFSI
AFSN
AINF
AGR
AROC
AO
AMBASSADOR
AFFAIRS
ASIG
ABLD
ASUP
AND
ARM
ARF
AQ
ATFN
AC
ACOA
AORL
ADM
AUC
AGMT
ACABQ
ASEX
AFU
ALOW
AZ
APCS
AVERY
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AER
AN
AIT
AMG
AGRICULTURE
AMCHAMS
ACS
BR
BA
BD
BL
BO
BF
BU
BILAT
BEXP
BRUSSELS
BK
BN
BM
BT
BY
BX
BTIO
BIDEN
BG
BE
BP
BBSR
BC
BTIU
BWC
BB
BH
BMGT
CH
CY
CA
CU
CS
CO
CVIS
CPAS
CMGT
CE
COUNTER
CASC
COUNTRY
CJAN
COUNTERTERRORISM
CG
CI
CD
CIDA
CJUS
CDG
CBSA
CEUDA
CR
CM
CLMT
CAC
CBW
CODEL
COPUOS
CWC
CIC
CW
CBE
CHR
CFED
CT
CONS
CIA
CTM
CDC
CVR
CF
CLINTON
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CACS
CAN
CONDOLEEZZA
CB
CSW
CITT
CARSON
CNARC
CACM
CDB
CARICOM
COM
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CV
CKGR
CBC
CL
CICTE
CIS
ECON
EFIN
ELAB
ETRD
EIND
EC
EINV
EAGR
ENRG
ETTC
EAID
EPET
ELTN
EWWT
EAIR
EFIS
EMIN
EG
EU
ER
EUN
EPA
ENVI
EXTERNAL
ECPS
ENGR
ETRC
ECIN
EN
EI
ELN
ET
EINT
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ES
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EZ
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EFTA
EAIG
EK
EUREM
EURN
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EAP
ENIV
ECONOMY
ESA
EINN
ECONOMIC
EIAR
EXBS
ECA
ECUN
EINDETRD
EUR
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
ENERG
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFIM
ENGY
EAIDS
EINVEFIN
EINVETC
EUMEM
ETRA
ETC
ERNG
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EXIM
ERD
EEPET
IR
IS
IZ
IAEA
IO
IAHRC
ID
IC
IT
IRAQI
IWC
IN
IL
ISLAMISTS
IV
ICAO
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IPR
ICRC
INTERPOL
IQ
IBET
IMO
INR
ITRA
INTERNAL
ICJ
ICTY
IRS
ILO
INRA
INRO
ISRAELI
IEA
INRB
ITALY
ITU
IBRD
IIP
ILC
INTELSAT
IZPREL
IMF
INMARSAT
IRAJ
IDA
ICTR
IA
IGAD
IF
IDP
ITF
ISRAEL
IEFIN
IRC
IACI
KN
KCRM
KOMC
KNNPMNUC
KIPR
KPAL
KWBG
KSCA
KFRD
KNNP
KUNR
KTIP
KWMN
KSTC
KFLU
KOLY
KISL
KPAO
KMDR
KJUS
KSTH
KDEM
KCOR
KIRF
KAWC
KU
KTFN
KWAC
KNPP
KERG
KSEO
KACT
KHLS
KZ
KGHG
KTIA
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KE
KPKO
KCIP
KDRG
KVPR
KV
KIDE
KICC
KPRP
KBIO
KSUM
KGIT
KCFE
KG
KBTS
KFLO
KMPI
KS
KGIC
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KSEP
KTEX
KFSC
KOCI
KHDP
KPLS
KTDB
KHIV
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KMRS
KOM
KSAF
KRVC
KR
KMOC
KNAR
KIRC
KBCT
KSPR
KFIN
KBTR
KJUST
KNEI
KAWK
KGCC
KMCA
KREL
KMFO
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVRP
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KAID
KVIR
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KRAD
KPRV
KCMR
KPWR
KCHG
KIFR
KCFC
KICA
KPIN
KSCI
KESS
KDEV
KTBT
KCRS
KCGC
KOMS
KRIM
KTER
KREC
KPOA
KWWMN
KRGY
KPAK
KWNM
KMIG
KDDG
KRFD
KWMM
KWMNCS
KX
KRCM
KPAONZ
KNUC
KDEMAF
KNUP
MARR
MOPS
MASS
MCAP
MTCRE
MNUC
MIL
MX
MEDIA
MO
MPOS
MU
ML
MA
MP
MY
MERCOSUR
MG
MD
MW
MK
MAS
MEETINGS
MR
MT
MI
MOPPS
MASC
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MTRE
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
MARAD
MASSMNUC
MEPP
MCC
MZ
MILITARY
MDC
MRCRE
MC
MV
MIK
MUCN
NATO
NL
NZ
NPT
NI
NAFTA
NU
NDP
NIPP
NP
NPA
NG
NRR
NO
NSC
NEW
NE
NH
NR
NA
NS
NSF
NZUS
NATIONAL
NSG
NC
NT
NAR
NK
NGO
NV
NSFO
NSSP
NASA
NW
NPG
NORAD
NATOPREL
OTRA
OAS
OPRC
OIIP
OVIP
OREP
OPDC
OEXC
OSCE
OFFICIALS
OMIG
ODIP
OFDP
OECD
OPIC
OBSP
OPCW
OFDA
OTR
OSAC
OSCI
ON
OCII
OES
OVP
OIC
OPAD
OIE
OHUM
OCS
PREL
PGOV
PK
PHUM
PINS
PARM
PA
PTER
PINR
PREF
PHSA
PBTS
PBIO
PO
POL
PE
PARMS
PM
PROG
PL
PAK
POLITICS
PORG
PTBS
PNAT
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PROP
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PAO
PG
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PALESTINIAN
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PSEPC
PREFA
PGOVE
PINF
PHUMPGOV
PNG
PMIL
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
PLN
PSA
PGIV
POLINT
PAS
POGOV
PHUMPREL
PHUMBA
PEL
PGGV
PNR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PRAM
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PF
POV
PROV
PRL
PREO
PAHO
PHUH
PSI
PINL
PU
PRGOV
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
RS
RU
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RO
RW
RCMP
RF
RM
RFE
RSP
RP
RICE
ROBERT
ROOD
RELATIONS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RSO
SU
SNAR
SO
SOCI
SW
SENV
SMIG
SCUL
SP
SZ
SENVKGHG
SR
SY
SA
SYRIA
SF
SI
SC
SWE
SARS
STEINBERG
SN
SG
SIPRS
ST
SEVN
SL
SPCE
SNARIZ
SSA
SNARCS
SYR
SK
SPCVIS
SHUM
SIPDIS
SHI
SH
SOFA
SEN
SNARN
SAARC
SAN
SANC
SCRS
TRGY
TBIO
TU
TF
TERRORISM
TI
TSPL
TPHY
TH
TIP
TSPA
TC
TO
TW
TX
TZ
TNGD
TT
TL
TV
TFIN
TS
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TD
TK
TR
THPY
TP
TAGS
UNGA
UN
UK
US
UNC
UNSC
USUN
UG
UP
UY
USEU
UNESCO
USPS
USTR
UZ
UNHRC
UNO
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNHCR
UNCHR
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
USOAS
UNFICYP
UV
UNEP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDC
UNCHC
UNDP
UNCND
USNC
UNPUOS
UNICEF
UNCSD
UE
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 04QUITO2922, MOL CONSIDERS LABOR REFORM; UNIONS URGE RESIGNATION
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04QUITO2922.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
04QUITO2922 | 2004-11-05 17:05 | 2011-05-02 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Quito |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 QUITO 002922
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SECSTATE PLEASE PASS TO US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV EC
SUBJECT: MOL CONSIDERS LABOR REFORM; UNIONS URGE RESIGNATION
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Meeting in Guayaquil with USTR and
Department of State officials, two key Ecuadorian labor
leaders stated they will challenge the recently published
executive decree on subcontracting as unconstitutional, and
also repeated a call for Minister of Labor Raul Izurieta's
removal from office. They also will file a complaint with
the ILO and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
regarding a decision by Ecuador's Constitutional Tribunal on
the Civil Service Law, which they feel violates collective
bargaining rights. Izurieta told USTR, DOL, and State
Department representatives in Guayaquil that he was working
on promoting labor code reform, but was facing difficulties
in getting the labor sector engaged. He implied he might
propose legislation permitting sector-wide unions, but did
not react to other proposed reforms. End Summary.
Union Leaders Unhappy With Subcontracting Decree
--------------------------------------------- ---
¶2. (SBU) On October 26, William Clatanoff, AUSTR for Labor;
Michael Puccetti, WHA/PPC; Greg Maggio, DRL/IL; and LabOff
met three labor leaders in Guayaquil to discuss the
recently-issued Presidential decree on subcontracting and
prospects for further labor law reform in the country. Jaime
Arciniegas, President of the labor federation CEOSL; and
Guillermo Touma, president of the labor union, FENACLE; were
accompanied by Patricio Contreras, AFL-CIO Solidarity Center
representative. The three were in Guayaquil to participate
in protests against the fifth round of negotiations of the
Andean Free Trade Agreement, held between October 25th and
29th.
¶3. (SBU) Arciniegas, Touma and Contreras expressed
displeasure with the content of the decree and stated that
they would file a lawsuit charging that the document violates
Ecuador's constitution. They were particularly opposed to
Article 9, which states that subcontracting can be used for
"indefinite" periods of time. They also believe that the 75%
cap on subcontracting at any individual primary company will
not protect workers against employer abuse and, furthermore,
is contradicted in the same article by a phrase that says
workers can be subcontracted indefinitely to do the primary
work of a company "in part or in total." The unions had
previously proposed to the Ministry of Labor a 15% cap on
subcontracted workers. The three also asserted that because
there is no Ecuadorian law on subcontracting, it is
unconstitutional to regulate this activity by means of an
executive decree. They did not bring up the provision in the
decree that allows "natural persons" to act as subcontractors
in the agriculture sector. When asked, they stated they were
very concerned it could be used as a legal loophole by
companies. On the positive side, the three conceded that the
decree at least represents a first attempt to regulate
subcontracting and prohibits employers from hiring false
subcontractors directly linked to company management.
¶4. (SBU) Arciniegas and Touma expressed concern that the
decree had never been submitted for review to the National
Labor Council, which was set up in March 2004 to coordinate
input from workers, employers and the government on labor law
reform and related developments. While the President and
Minister of Labor (MOL) met with trade union leaders,
including Arciniegas, to discuss earlier versions of the
decree, they now asserted that labor's positions and
suggestions were not taken into account. Furthermore, they
said, the MOL had not responded to their recommendations and
had failed to show them the final version of the text before
it was published in the official register. They said the
labor movement is considering mobilizing workers to protest
the decree and may even call for a national strike and an
international campaign to draw attention to the situation.
They repeated their call for Izurieta's removal, asserting
that he represents the nation's business interests rather
than its workers.
¶5. (SBU) Arciniegas and Touma also voiced concerns about the
Constitutional Tribunal's ruling on the Civil Service and
Administrative Career Law. The Tribunal classified the law
as "organic" in a ruling published in the Official Register
on September 28. This means the law overrides the labor
code. With no additional recourse since the Tribunal has
ruled, the union leaders stated they would be making formal
complaints to the ILO and the Inter-American Court of Human
Rights. The unions believe this new law, passed in January
2004, takes away public sector workers' right to collective
bargaining by setting maximum salaries (while still allowing
them to form a union). Under Ecuadorian law, manual laborers
are defined as "workers" and those that do intellectual tasks
as "employees." "Workers" have the right to collectively
bargain under the labor code, while "employees" fall under
the Civil Service Law, which prohibits collective bargaining.
Union leaders feel the government is labeling many who
should be "workers" as "employees" to deny them collective
bargaining rights.
¶6. (SBU) Arciniegas said that MOL Izurieta had refused a
request by cut flower sector workers to form an industry-wide
union. Touma stated that there had been no repeat of
violence similar to what occurred at the Los Alamos
plantation. He said this was due to USG attention to labor
issues in Ecuador.
Minister of Labor Accepts Responsibility for Labor Code Reform
--------------------------------------------- -----------------
¶7. (SBU) In a meeting on October 26 with AUSTR Clatanoff,
ADUS Jorge Perez-Lopez (USDOL), PolCouns and LabOff,
Clatanoff made clear that he believed that the US Congress
would not pass a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) without Ecuador
reforming its Labor Code to make it ILO-consistent.
Perez-Lopez and Clatanoff told Izurieta of a meeting they had
had with an Inter-American Development Bank staff member, who
stated there were funds available for a Labor Code reform
project. Post is also working on putting MOL staff in
contact with AID to discuss AID-funded Trade Capacity
Building projects.
¶8. (SBU) Izurieta agreed that additional labor reforms are
desirable, but complained that labor union leaders had
perspectives that were out of date and were unwilling to
negotiate in good faith with him. Izurieta urged the Embassy
to intervene and speak with labor leaders to convince them to
come to the table for Labor Code reform. Clatanoff offered
to return to Quito in November to speak with union leaders,
business leaders and the National Labor Council, an idea that
pleased Izurieta. Clatanoff told Izurieta that unions' total
acceptance of Labor Code reform was not necessary; more
importantly, he said, the reforms needed to be
ILO-consistent.
¶9. (SBU) Izurieta said the National Labor Council was
currently working on a forthcoming Presidential decree
regulating the hiring of workers paid by the hour. Izurieta
feels there is strong support from all sectors for this
regulation. Izurieta seemed to react positively to
Clatanoff's suggestion to permit industrial or sector unions
such as the flower-industry union Touma discussed in the
earlier meeting, although he claimed this would require
legislative reforms. Sector-wide unions could serve to
provide freedom of association to subcontracted workers who
do not meet the 30-person legal minimum to organize a
stand-alone union. Izurieta did not react to other possible
labor code reforms suggested by Clatanoff, including
reinstatement of workers fired for union organizing and
prohibition of hiring discrimination against union members.
¶10. (SBU) In meetings with the Ecuadorian business community
and President of Congress Guillermo Landazuri, AUSTR Regina
Vargo highlighted the importance of labor reform to building
US Congressional support for an FTA with Ecuador. Both
business leaders and Landazuri understood and accepted her
point. Suprisingly, business leaders did not return to their
well-known objections to the subcontracting decree in the
meeting, focusing instead on the need to move forward on
labor reform, and on their other FTA concerns.
Comment
-------
¶11. (SBU) While labor code reform will not be easy, to have
any chance, Izurieta must show greater leadership. We will
continue to push for cooperation with partners such as the
ILO and IDB, which will also be crucial for this endeavor.
However, coordination with union leaders will be a challenge.
The signing of an FTA may be an incentive for the GOE to
pass labor code reform. The business community, which
expects labor reform to result in a more dynamic and
competitive labor market, can be an important force
supporting reform. Union leaders, who oppose the FTA and any
increase in labor market flexibility, are unlikely to be
supportive.
KENNEY