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;