Labor Landscapes: Insights@Meridian with The Honorable Thea Lee

The Department of Labor spearheads the U.S. government’s policies on expanding and protecting labor rights. Despite misconceived perceptions of the Department as a hinderance to economic growth, effective interagency collaboration with entities such as the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Treasury, USAID and the U.S. Congress help promote a fair and equitable global labor market. Under the Biden Administration, the Department showcases its commitment to fortifying a free and fair international economic system by garnering bipartisan support to advance worker empowerment, rights, and high labor standards worldwide.  On July 17, 2024, the Meridian Center for Diplomatic Engagement hosted The Honorable Thea Lee, Deputy Under Secretary of International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor, for a dynamic discussion on how the Department is strengthening multilateral and multisector collaboration to fortify global labor rights and regulations, promote sustainable economic growth and enhance American competitiveness on the global stage.   

Deputy Under Secretary Lee was joined by Rina Shah, Founder and CEO of Rilax Strategies, who moderated the fireside chat. Frank Justice, Vice President of Diplomatic Engagement at Meridian International Center, presided. 

Here are some­ top takeaways from the program:

1. American Dream: Protecting the Rights of Migrant Workers   

The Department of Labor has taken significant steps to safeguard the rights of migrant workers in the U.S. through initiatives like The Consular Partners Program (CPP). The program collaborates with consulates from countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic, to ensure migrant workers are aware of their rights and can access vital resources.  The CPP facilitates workshops and information sessions to educate workers on fair pay, labor rules, and protecting against violations like forced labor and human trafficking. Resources for migrant workers are also available on the Department of Labor’s website, MigrantWorker.gov, which provides information on recruitment, wages, workplace safety, and organizing rights. Deputy Under Secretary Lee highlighted how the Department is working to expand these efforts by increasing partnerships with Latin American and Asian countries and enhancing language accessibility for migrant workers, thereby reinforcing its commitment to creating a fair and equitable labor market.    

2. Job Renewal and the Push for a Circular Economy    

Despite a historically toxic relationship between environmental and labor leaders, the Department of Labor is working tirelessly to integrate these policies to promote sustainable economic growth and job creation through investments in a circular economy. Deputy Under Secretary Lee shared that key legislative successes, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, push for good jobs while driving the clean energy transition. These investments in sectors like semiconductors and clean energy aim to benefit underserved communities and “ensure that climate investments create good-paying jobs” for workers globally. The U.S. is also committed to partnering with countries to advance the just transition for American and foreign workers. Through international engagements, such as partnerships with Brazil and South Africa, the Department works to manage the politics of just transition globally. This holistic approach seeks to create resilient supply chains, enhance workforce training, and foster innovation in environmental technologies, thereby solidifying the U.S.'s leadership in the circular economy and job renewal. 

3. Leading Labor on the Global Stage

The DOL’s bilateral and multilateral cooperative efforts have been a quintessential component of their global priorities. On a regional level, the United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA) has pioneered cooperation on enforceable labor regulations and protections, incorporating policies to protect freedom of association and collective bargaining for North American workers such as the rapid response labor mechanism, which serves as a model for other global partnerships. As the lead U.S. representative on the labor tracks at the G7 and G20 Summits, the Department drives global discussions on critical labor issues. Deputy Under Secretary Lee spoke on U.S. priorities ahead of the meeting of the 2024 G20 Summit’s Employment Working Group in Fortaleza, Brazil, which include advancing consensus on just transition strategies, addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in the workforce, and strengthening measures against forced labor.  

Deputy Under Secretary Lee also reflected on the U.S.’s bilateral relationship with Brazil, collaborating on the first joint U.S.-Brazil global initiative the Partnership for Worker’s Rights, championing just labor practices within economic development. The Deputy Under Secretary also underscored Brazil’s progress on combatting ongoing labor violations, highlighting the federal resources they provide to victims of forced labor and trafficking, including access to housing, healthcare and education to ensure they are not trapped in the cycle of violent labor practices.  

4. Partnerships for Progress

Deputy Under Secretary Lee recognizes the pivotal role of the private sector in advancing labor standards and fostering a just transition to a sustainable economy, acknowledging “none of the work of the Department of Labor would be effective without the private sector.” Initiatives like the Performance Partnership Pilots for Disconnected Youth (P3)—which “contributes to the labor evidence base to inform employment and training programs and policies”—have proven to be vastly more effective compared to solely government-led employment opportunities. Expanding private sector engagement for apprenticeships within trade fields like manufacturing, culinary, care work and labor-intensive roles such as plumbing and carpentry has proven especially impactful. The Department also emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion with programs such as WANTO (Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Program), leading efforts to support women's involvement in trade industries and promoting equity by providing opportunities for career growth and upward mobility. By aligning with industry leaders, Deputy Secretary Lee underscored the Department’s ability to leverage the expertise and resources of the private sector to create sustainable employment solutions and uphold high labor standards, ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are broadly shared. 

5. Global Labor Accountability and Resilience 

Amidst the complexities of the global labor market, accountability mechanisms have emerged as a crucial tool to uphold labor rights and standards, with a particular focus on legislation such as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which seeks to address and prevent forced labor practices in global supply chains. The UFLPA was revolutionary as it brought about significant changes in business operations, supply chain management, and labor practices, with a strong focus on preventing forced labor. It has had a major impact on U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s detention of goods and has broken links in the forced labor supply chain in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Despite concerns from industry regarding operational growth, Deputy Under Secretary Lee emphasized that this law was meant to be disruptive to businesses by forcing international companies to examine their supply chains holistically and prioritize mitigating forced labor through subcontracting and outsourcing jobs. Particularly because the UFLPA affirms that “[the] U.S. shall not import good that are manufactured, imported, or mined in full or in part by forced labor”—extending protections for child and indentured workers as well—companies are being required to maintain just labor practices from the ground up. The goals of the UFLPA harmonize with a major consensus on labor rights from the 2024 G7 Summit: that there is an urgent need for responsive efforts in combatting forced labor and human trafficking within global supply chains.  

Project summary

Labor Landscapes: Insights@Meridian with The Honorable Thea Lee | July 2024
Impact Areas:	Business and Trade, Foreign Policy
Program Areas:	Diplomatic Engagement