Preamble

The Government of the United States of America, the Government of Canada and the Government of the United Mexican States:

RECALLING their resolve in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to:

• create an expanded and secure market for the goods and services produced in their territories,

• enhance the competitiveness of their firms in global markets,

• create new employment opportunities and improve working conditions and living standards in their respective territories, and

• protect, enhance and enforce basic workers' rights;

AFFIRMING their continuing respect for each Party's constitution and law;

DESIRING to build on their respective international commitments and to strengthen their cooperation on labor matters;

RECOGNIZING that their mutual prosperity depends on the promotion of competition based on innovation and rising levels of productivity and quality;

SEEKING to complement the economic opportunities created by the NAFTA with the human resource development, labor-management cooperation and continuous learning that characterize high-productivity economies;

ACKNOWLEDGING that protecting basic workers' rights will encourage firms to adopt high-productivity competitive strategies;

RESOLVED to promote, in accordance with their respective laws, high-skill, high-productivity economic development in North America by:

• investing in continuous human resource development, including for entry into the workforce and during periods of unemployment;

• promoting employment security and career opportunities for all workers through referral and other employment services;
• strengthening labor-management cooperation to promote greater dialogue between worker organizations and employers and to foster creativity and productivity in the workplace;

• promoting higher living standards as productivity increases;

• encouraging consultation and dialogue between labor, business and government both in each country and in North America;

• fostering investment with due regard for the importance of labor laws and principles;

• encouraging employers and employees in each country to comply with labor laws and to work together in maintaining a progressive, fair, safe and healthy working environment;

BUILDING on existing institutions and mechanisms in Canada, Mexico and the United States to achieve the preceding economic and social goals; and

CONVINCED of the benefits to be gained from further cooperation between them on labor matters;

HAVE AGREED as follows: