The cross-border social dialogue dimension of this Free Trade Agreement (FTA), in force since 1 January 2021, relates to Chapter 13 on Trade and Sustainable Development, which establishes a “Joint Forum of Domestic Advisory Groups”, in which representatives of workers’ and employers’ organizations from the two countries participate, alongside other civil society organizations, to exchange information on trade-related sustainable development issues.
According to the agreement, Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) established in each country, are tasked with advising on the implementation of Chapter 13. They comprise “independent representative organisations, ensuring a balanced representation of economic, social and environmental stakeholders, including, among others, employers' and workers' organisations, business groups, and environmental organisations.”
The Joint Forum of DAGs shall meet at least once a year. On such occasions the Parties shall present to the Joint Forum an update on the implementation of Chapter 13.
More broadly Chapter 13 of the FTA commits the Parties to “affirm their commitment to pursue sustainable development which consists of economic development, social development and environmental protection, all three being inter-dependent and mutually reinforcing” and “to respect, promote and effectively implement the principles concerning the fundamental rights at work.” They also commit them to “make continued and sustained efforts towards ratifying, to the extent it has not yet done so, the fundamental ILO conventions” and “consider the ratification of other conventions that are classified as up to date by the ILO, taking into account its domestic circumstances.” They also recognize the importance of working together on trade-related aspects of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.