Government of Canada: Minister Bradshaw Opens Conference On Workplace Violence.

Business Editors

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 2001

Today, the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour, opened an international conference on workplace violence.

Entitled Violence as a Workplace Risk, the conference, held under the Cooperative Work Program of the North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation (NAALC), takes place from November 29 to 30 in Montreal.

Over 200 delegates will explore the causes of workplace violence and practical solutions to help eliminate this danger to workers. Workplace violence takes many forms including both physical and psychological trauma.

Specifically, delegates will examine raising awareness of violence in the workplace, the nature and scope of the phenomenon, successful policies and practices to combat the problem, and different forms of workers' compensation and insurance systems including assistance to victims, witnesses and perpetrators of violence. In addition, delegates will look at plans for further research into preventative measures related to workplace violence.

"Workplace violence is a serious and growing problem, of concern to all of us. Canada, the U.S. and Mexico are committed to safe and healthy workplaces and we hope this conference will help us to better understand the causes and possible solutions to this terrible problem," said Minister Bradshaw.

Recently, Canada amended the Canada Labour Code to include provisions to protect workers and prevent workplace violence. A tripartite working group, involving employees, employers and government representatives, are developing new regulations on violence in the workplace.

The Cooperative Work Program is designed as a forum in which representatives of the governments of Canada, the United States and Mexico meet and share information and best practices on a number of labour related issues. At this conference, these representatives will be joined by business, academic and labour delegates.

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The North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation was signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico and the United States in 1993 and came into force on January 1, 1994. The NAALC, along with the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, complement the North American Free Trade Agreement.

BACKGROUNDER

The North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation

The North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation (NAALC), which supplements the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), came into effect on January 1, 1994. It was the first agreement of its kind, linking the enforcement of labour standards to trade.

The NAALC has two central objectives: first, the promotion of a set of labour principles and extensive cooperation in the labour field and second, the effective enforcement of labour laws and regulations (including a dispute resolution process). The NAALC provides for a Commission for Labour Cooperation comprised of the three ministers responsible for labour and a supporting Secretariat located in Washington, DC. National Administrative Offices coordinate each country's participation in NAALC activities and consultations.

In Canada, an Intergovernmental Agreement was negotiated between federal, provincial and territorial governments to enable provinces and territories to assume the obligations of the NAALC and to participate in its implementation, management and further elaboration. The Intergovernmental Agreement recognizes that labour laws in Canada apply to workplaces and workforces that fall for the most part within provincial or territorial responsibility. It also provides for a federal-provincial-territorial Governmental Committee which is co-chaired by the federal government and signatory provinces on a rotating basis.

The Governmental Committee:

- develops and manages Canada's involvement in the NAALC;

- establishes Canada's positions and approaches;

- is composed of Ministers responsible for Labour from each signatory
government;

- provides for participation by non-signatory governments; and

- functions on the basis of consensus.

Signatory provinces provide information for reports and studies produced by the Secretariat of the Commission for Labour Cooperation and in response to information requests from the U.S. and Mexican National Administrative Offices. They are also involved in cooperative consultations, evaluations and dispute resolution related to the enforcement of labour law in their jurisdictions. Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec and Prince Edward Island have also signed the agreement.

November 2001