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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

 
Bureau of International Labor Affairs; Notice of Public Hearings

    This document is a notice of public hearings to be held by the 
Department of Labor for the purpose of gathering information regarding 
the use of abusive or exploitative child labor in the production of 
goods imported into the United States. The hearing will be held on 
Friday, June 28, 1996, at the Department of Labor, room N-3437, 
beginning at 9 a.m. The hearing will be open to the public. The 
Department of Labor is now accepting requests from all interested 
parties to provide oral or written testimony at the hearing. Each 
presentation will be limited to ten minutes. The Department is not able 
to provide financial assistance to those wishing to travel to attend 
the hearing. Those unable to attend the hearing are invited to submit 
written testimony. Parties interested in testifying at the 
international child labor hearing should call (202) 219-7867 to be put 
on the roster.
    The Department of Labor is currently undertaking a third 
Congressionally-mandated review of international child labor practices 
(pursuant to the 1996 Omnibus Appropriations Act, P.L. 104-134). 
Information provided at the hearing will be considered by the 
Department of Labor in preparing its report to Congress. Testimony 
should be confined to the specific topic of the study.
    Specifically, the international child labor study of the Bureau of 
International Labor Affairs is seeking written and oral testimony on 
the topics noted below:
    1. Efforts of U.S. companies and nongovernmental agencies aimed at 
eliminating the use of abusive and exploitative child labor in the 
production of goods imported into the United States. Such efforts could 
include, but are not limited to, labeling, consumer information 
campaigns, codes of conduct, guidelines for subcontractors, and the 
establishment of educational facilities.
    2. Codes of conduct in the garment industry. We are required to 
identify the top 20 U.S. garment importers, their subsidiaries, 
contractors, and their subcontractors' codes of conduct regarding the 
use of abusive and exploitative child labor in the production of goods 
imported to the United States. We are seeking information about the 
nature, adequacy and effectiveness of any such codes of conduct.
    3. The necessary components of an effective code of conduct and its 
enforcement.
    4. International and U.S. laws that might be used to encourage the 
elimination of child labor exploitation, including in the production of 
items imported into the United States, and any appropriate changes to 
such laws.
    5. Items that are likely to be produced with abusive and 
exploitative child labor and imported into the United States.

DATES: The hearing is scheduled for Friday, June 28, 1996. The deadline 
for being placed on the roster for oral testimony is 5 p.m., June 21, 
1996. Presenters will be required to submit five (5) written copies of 
their oral testimony to the Child Labor Study office by 5 p.m., June 
26. The record will be kept open for additional written testimony until 
5 p.m., July 5, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written testimony should be addressed to the International 
Child Labor Study, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Room S-1308, 
U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210, fax: (202) 219-4923.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teresa Estrada-Berg, International 
Child Labor Study, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Room S-1308, 
U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210, telephone: (202) 219-
7867; fax (202) 219-5980. Persons with disabilities who need special 
accommodations should contact Ms. Estrada-Berg by June 17, 1996.
    All written or oral comments submitted pursuant to the public 
hearing will be made part of the record of review referred to above and 
will be available for public inspection.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 15th day of May, 1996.
Andrew J. Samet,
Associate Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-13013 Filed 5-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-M