Comparative Employment Law (US, Mexico and Canada)

NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, created a trading zone that includes the U.S., Mexico and Canada. One of the most controversial aspects of free trade policies has been the movement of work towards those nations that fail to regulate the employment practices of employers, particularly multinational corporations. The economic and legal interdependence fostered by these agreements has led to increasing interest in the legal systems of Canada and Mexico who share long borders and intertwined histories with the United States.

This course examines the employment and labor histories, contemporary policies and current controversies within and among these three North American neighbors. While the course does not focus on NAFTA, certain topics consider the effects of free trade policies, such as the maquila (assembly plants) along the U.S. - Mexico border.