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JOINT STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE FOR A STRATEGIC ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

Attachment 4

LABOR

March 2007

The two ministers,

Recognizing that labor and trade policies should be mutually supportive, with a view to achieving development with social justice;

Acknowledging that sustainable economic growth and prosperity largely depend on people's knowledge and skills to raise productivity and competitiveness of each country;

Sharing the common aspiration that free trade and investments should lead to job creation, decent work and meaningful jobs for workers, with terms and conditions of employment which adhere to the fundamental principles established by the International Labor Organization (ILO);

Convinced of the need to protect labor rights together with strengthening trade and investment relationship;

Noting the existence of differences in the countries' social, cultural, economic, technological and legal conditions;

Convinced of the need to increase employability by developing human capital through vocational education and training;

Stressing the importance of the participation of worker and employer representatives, as well as other members of civil society;

Aware of the importance of dealing with labor issues based on cooperation, consultation and dialogue;

Have confirmed as follows:

  1. Both governments reaffirm their respective countries' obligations as members of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and their commitment to the principles of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up (1998).
  2. Both governments share the views on the importance of having their respective countries' labor laws, regulations, policies and practices in harmony with their countries' commitments under applicable international labor agreements.
  3. Both governments share the view that it is inappropriate to set or use labor laws, regulations, policies and practices for the purposes of disguised restriction on international trade.
  4. Both governments also share the view that it is inappropriate to weaken, reduce or fail to enforce or administer the protections afforded in domestic labor laws solely to encourage trade or investment.
  5. Both governments will promote public awareness of labor laws and regulations in their respective countries.
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