The NAALC prescribes that at least once a year the Council of Ministers, the governing body of the Commission for Labor Cooperation, shall convene in regular session. The Council can be composed of either the Ministers in person, or their designees. The Ministers have met in person annually since the establishment of the Commission. More frequent meetings of the representatives of the Ministers, known as Council Designees, are held to deal with operational and other matters.

A. Ministerial Council Session

May 15, 1996 - Mexico City

At this meeting, Alfonso Gagliano, Canadian Minister of Labour, Robert B. Reich, U.S. Labor Secretary and host Javier Bonilla, Mexican Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare, reviewed progress made in 1995 and considered and approved the Secretariat's 1996 workplan and budget as well as planned cooperative activities for 1996. They also approved the Commission's first Annual Report. Executive Director John S. McKennirey made his first report to the Council on the activities of the Secretariat since it was officially opened in September 1995.

The Ministers described their respective labor markets and economic situations and exchanged views on government plans to address priority labor concerns. They reviewed progress on two then ongoing Ministerial Consultations. They approved and released the Secretariat's Preliminary Report on Labor Markets in the three NAFTA countries. Minister Gagliano presented a revised French language text of the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation, which Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade would arrange to have recognized and to be published as the new official French language text. The Ministers concluded their meeting by issuing a Joint Communiqué.

B. Meetings of Council Designees

January 23-25, 1996 - Dallas

With Canada as chair, Council Designees reviewed progress on the 1995 workplan, especially research studies, and discussed the Secretariat's proposed workplan and budget for 1996. The Council Designees provided general guidance on the Secretariat's forthcoming special study on the Effects of Sudden Plant Closings on Freedom of Association and the Right to Organize in Canada, Mexico and the United States (see II C, p. x). They also agreed on the agenda and preparations needed for the Ministerial meeting in May in Mexico City.

April 11-12, 1996 - Dallas

In a meeting chaired by Mexico, Nicole Senécal, Assistant Deputy Minister, Labour, was introduced as the new Council Designee for Canada. Status reports were approved regarding Secretariat reports on comparative labor markets and on comparative labor law systems in North America, and on advanced practices in the garment industry. The methodology and terms of reference were approved for the special study on plant closings and their effects on the principle of freedom of association and the right of employees to organize. Also approved were plans for a first annual seminar on incomes and productivity in North America to be organized by the Secretariat.

December 5, 1996 - Dallas

At U.S. request, Canada chaired the meeting. Secretariat workplan and budget proposals for 1997 and 1998 were discussed. Approval was given to revisions of the Commission's Financial Rules that the Council's financial experts had drafted in consultation with the Secretariat and the Commission's external auditors. Nearly complete draft rules of procedure for Evaluation Committees of Experts were noted. The need to develop dispute settlement rules of procedure pursuant to NAALC Article 33 was discussed.