ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHARTER
1. THE COMMITTEE'S OFFICIAL DESIGNATION
National Advisory Committee for Labor Provisions of U.S. Free Trade Agreements.
2. ESTABLISHMENT
The committee is established pursuant to Article 17 of the North American Agreement on Labor
Cooperation (NAALC), signed by the Governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in
September 1993; Article 17.4 of the United States - Singapore Free Trade Agreement, signed on
May 6, 2003; Article 18.4 of the United States - Chile Free Trade Agreement, signed on June 6,
2003; Article 18.4 of the United States - Australia Free Trade Agreement, signed on May 18, 2004
; and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2 §§1-15.
3. THE COMMITTEE'S OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF ACTIVITY
The committee shall provide advice to the Secretary of Labor through the Bureau of
International Labor Affairs concerning the implementation of the NAALC and the labor provisions
of the U.S. - Singapore, U.S. - Chile, and U.S. - Australia free trade agreements. The
committee also may provide advice on the implementation of labor provisions of other free trade
agreements to which the United States may be a party or become a party. The Bureau of
International Labor Affairs is the point of contact for the North American Agreement on Labor
Cooperation and the labor provisions of the United States - Singapore, United States - Chile,
and United States - Australia free trade agreements.
4. THE PERIOD OF TIME NECESSARY FOR THE COMMITTEE TO CARRY OUT ITS PURPOSES
It is contemplated that the committee will meet for the life of the NAALC and the U.S. -
Singapore, U.S. - Chile, and U.S. - Australia free trade agreements, but is subject to the
provisions of section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
5. THE AGENCY OR OFFICIAL TO WHOM THE COMMITTEE REPORTS
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs.
6. THE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THE NECESSARY SUPPORT FOR THE COMMITTEE
U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs.
7. DESCRIPTION OF THE DUTIES FOR WHICH THE COMMITTEE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE
The committee shall provide advice to the Secretary of Labor through the Bureau of
International Labor Affairs on the implementation of the NAALC and the labor chapters of the
United States - Singapore Free Trade Agreement, the United States - Chile Free Trade Agreement,
and the United States - Australia Free Trade Agreement. The committee may be asked to provide
advice on the implementation of labor provisions of other free trade agreements to which the
United States may be a party or become a party. The committee should provide advice on issues
within the scope of the NAALC and the labor provisions of the free trade agreements, including
cooperative activities and the labor cooperation mechanism of each free trade agreement as
established in the labor provisions and corresponding annexes. The committee may be asked to
provide advice on these and other matters as they arise in the course of administering the
agreements.
8. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION
The committee shall consist of 12 members, including a chairperson, appointed by the
Secretary of Labor. Four members will be selected from the labor community, four from the
business community, and four from the public. Each member shall serve for a period of two years
, unless becoming unable to serve, or resigning, or ceasing to be qualified to serve on the
Committee because of no longer meeting any relevant representational requirements, or being
removed by the Secretary in the interest of the administration of the agreements involved. In
such cases, the Secretary may appoint a new member to serve for the remainder of the unexpired
term, who shall be representative of the same interest.
The committee shall consist of the entire membership. The committee may establish one or
more subcommittees.
Unless already employees of the United States Government, no members of the committee shall
be deemed to be employees of the United States Government for any purpose by virtue of their
participation on the committee.
9. ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS IN DOLLARS AND PERSON-YEARS FOR SUCH COMMITTEE
The estimated total annual operating costs of the committee are $35,000. This includes 1/3
person-year (professional and secretarial staff) at an estimated cost of $20,000 (one - person
year is 2,000 hours) and travel and miscellaneous, estimated at $15,000.
10. ESTIMATED NUMBER AND FREQUENCY OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The committee is expected to meet twice a year at the call of the Secretary or his or her
designee.
11. COMMITTEE'S TERMINATION DATE
The committee will terminate two years from the date the charter is filed.
12. DATE CHARTER IS FILED
The charter is filed on the date indicated below.
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Elaine L. Chao
Secretary of Labor
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Date