Chicago Region - Renewal Agreement - April 1, 2024
ARRANGEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
CHICAGO REGIONAL OFFICE
AND
THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF ECUADOR IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Chicago Regional Office and the Consulate General of Ecuador in Chicago (the Consulate), hereinafter referred to individually as "Participant" and collectively as "the Participants";
Recognizing the joint commitment to protect the well-being of Ecuadorian workers in the United States acknowledged in the Letter of Arrangement between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United States of America and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Integration of Ecuador, signed at Washington, D.C., on August 26th, 2016; and
Recognizing that OSHA's Alliance Program provides for the establishment of cooperative relationships for purposes such as training and education, outreach and communication, and promoting a national dialogue on workplace safety and health;
Intend to form an Alliance to achieve the following:
Overall Objective
The Participants intend to establish a collaborative relationship to provide Ecuadorian nationals in Chicago and the Participants' common jurisdiction and others, information, guidance, and access to education and training resources to promote workers' rights in protecting their occupational safety and health, and to help them understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).
Training and Education
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education goals:
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To develop training and education programs for Ecuadorian workers and Ecuadoran employers in Chicago and the Participants' common jurisdiction regarding workplace safety and health.
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To develop training and education programs for Ecuadorian workers and employers in Chicago and the Participants' common jurisdiction to promote understanding of workers' rights and responsibilities of employers, including the use of the OSHA complaint process.
Outreach and Communication
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:
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To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and links to OSHA's Web site from the Consulate's Web site) to Ecuadorian nationals working in Chicago and the Participants' common jurisdiction and their employers.
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To speak, exhibit, or appear at the Participants' conferences, local meetings, or other events.
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To participate in "Mobile Consulate" activities and events.
Promotion of a National Dialogue
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting a national dialogue on workplace safety and health:
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To raise awareness of and demonstrate commitment to workplace safety and health and workers' rights under the OSH Act whenever leaders from the Participants address groups.
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To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on issues affecting Ecuadorian nationals working in Chicago and the Participants' common jurisdiction to help forge innovative solutions on issues concerning workplace safety and health and understanding of workers' rights and responsibilities of employers under the OSH Act.
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To share information on U.S. laws and standards, including those relating to workers' rights and responsibilities of employers under the OSH Act.
An implementation team made up of representatives of each Participant intends to meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the Participants. In addition, the Participants intend to meet at least three times per year to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance.
Nothing in this Arrangement commits the Participants to the expenditure of any funds.
This Arrangement may commence upon signature by both Participants. This Arrangement is intended to discontinue two (2) years from the date of signing. A Participant should endeavor to provide thirty (30) days advance written notice of its intent to discontinue its participation in this Arrangement. This Arrangement may be modified in writing at any time by mutual consent of the Participants.
Signed at Chicago, Illinois, in duplicate, this 1st day of April 2024, in the English and Spanish languages.
For the U.S. Department of Labor's
Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
Chicago Regional Office:
- William J. Donovan
- Regional Administrator
For the Consulate of Ecuador in Chicago:
- Humberto Jiménez Torres
- Consul