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.

Elaine L. Chao
Secretary of Labor