US requests dispute settlement panel for Atento call centers dispute in Mexico (updated)

Atento SA

16/04/2024 20:05

(Adds details, background)
       MEXICO CITY, April 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. government
asked for a so-called rapid response dispute settlement panel
under the USMCA North American trade pact to address a labor
dispute involving call centers operated by Spain's Atento in
Mexico, U.S. trade officials said on Tuesday.
    The move follows a U.S. request in January for Mexico to
review whether workers at the call centers in central Hidalgo
state were being denied their association and collective
bargaining rights.
        At the time, U.S. officials said they had found evidence
of "egregious" labor rights violations at the call centers.
  
        Atento operates Hidalgo call centers offering customer
service to BBVA bank customers.
  
        Late last month, Mexican authorities 
    concluded an investigation
     acknowledging the company may have violated labor rights
but that remedial actions had already been taken.
  
        On Tuesday, the U.S. trade office said it had not been
able to cooperate successfully as in previous cases, instead
opting to request the panel to verify Atento's compliance with
Mexican labor laws.
  
         "Pursuing a panel in this case indicates the
seriousness of the issues involved," according to the trade
office statement, which quoted International Labor Affairs
Deputy Undersecretary Thea Lee. 
  
        The statement went on to note that the United States
remains open to collaborating with Mexico to find a resolution.
  

 (Reporting by Raul Cortes; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by
David Alire Garcia)
 ((sarah.morland@thomsonreuters.com;))