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(LIP-jl) -- The United States government is preparing to intensify its efforts to improve labor clauses which protect employee conditions in the proposed free trade agreements (FTA) with Peru and Colombia.

According to a report in Peru's El Comercio newspaper, US Democrats are preoccupied with the current labor clauses in the FTAs and they have voiced their concerns regarding the lack of stipulations that will protect worker's rights in Peru and Colombia.

This has obviously been a major obstacle in attempting to garner enough support to ratify the FTAs in the United States.

"What we are aiming at with the FTAs is not only to open up trade with Peru and Colombia, but also to help improve working conditions of workers in the participating countries," explained US Trade Representative Susan Schwab in an upcoming C-SPAN interview, scheduled to air on Sunday.

The White House failed in their attempt to pass the FTAs with Peru and Colombia after US Democrats objected to the proposed labor clauses.

US Democrats are demanding that Peru and Colombia adhere to international employment standards, which currently allow for the freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, and the elimination of underage employment.

Schwab added, "I believe that US Republicans and Democrats are in agreement about improving the current labor situations in Colombia and Peru. The question is, how do we put this into practice?"

According to Schwab, there are many different instruments that can be implemented after the US, Colombia, and Peru are in agreement regarding trade issues.

Talks will resume next week, when the US Congress returns from recess.