Maritza Perez and Adareli Ponce have filed the first-ever petition against the U.S. under the USMCA in a pivotal moment for the fight to end gender discrimination against migrant worker women on temporary labor migration programs. The petition was signed by a binational coalition of allies led by CDM.
Migrant worker women are denied jobs, channeled into lower-paying roles and exposed to gender-based violence at their workplace. They’ve fought for justice, demanding the U.S. government put in place enforcement measures that ensure equity and dignity for migrant worker women.
For years, they watched as the toothless NAFTA labor side accord failed to hold the U.S. government accountable.
Now, with USMCA’s enforceable labor chapter promising sanctions for violators, Maritza and Adareli are putting the new trade agreement to the test.
Maritza and Adareli and dozens of allies are calling for the Mexican and U.S governments to live up to their obligations under the trade agreement.
Read the complaint: Complaint
Listen to Maritza, Adareli and allies discuss how they’re using the USMCA to end gender-based discrimination against migrant worker women: