The Mexican government and Wal-Mart have announced plans to improve the lives of farmworkers, Los Angeles Times reports.

Mexico's secretary of agriculture, Enrique Martinez y Martinez, announced the new initiative, the International Produce Alliance to Promote a Socially Responsible Industry on Thursday.

Martinez y Martinez stated that the nation is starting a "historic" alliance of produce industry groups that will focus on enforcing wage laws.

The group will also focus on improving housing, schools and healthcare for the more than 1 million laborers at export farms.

Lost Angeles Times previously published an investigation that detailed labor abuses at Mexican agribusinesses that supply major supermarkets and restaurants in the United States, sparking a positive change for the nation's farmworkers.

The alliance of produce industry groups represents growers and distributors that handle 90 percent of Mexico's produce exports to the U.S. The nation's supply of produce to America has tripled over the last 10 years which now exceed $7.5 billion a year.

Wal-Mart said it would ask outside suppliers to certify that they have visited "any new facility they plan to use for Wal-Mart production" that meets company standards.

The world's largest retailer vows to send a team of senior leaders to attend meetings with growers involved in the initiative.

"This effort is aimed at leveraging the work of a broader coalition to improve the lives of workers, including making it clear that Wal-Mart's standards do not tolerate working conditions as described in the L.A. Times," Wal-Mart said.

"We do not want to work with suppliers unless they share this commitment."

Recent reports showed that many farmworkers were trapped in labor camps, often without beds, reliable water supplies or enough food.

In some camps, labor leaders would hold farmers' pay to prevent them from leaving until the end of the season.

Wal-Mart said it is important for government officials to get involved in order to make progress.