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ILAB News Release: [09/04/2007]
Contact Name: Peggy Abrahamson or Dirk Fillpot
Phone Number: (202) 693-7909 or x4676
Release Number: 07-1325-NAT

U.S. Labor Department issues sixth annual report on child labor in trade beneficiary countries

Report required under Trade and Development Act

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today released its sixth annual report on the worst forms of child labor in 141 countries and territories that receive U.S. trade benefits.

"If carried out with the rule of law and civil standards in mind, free trade promotes respect for human rights, including the elimination of the worst forms of child labor," said Charlotte M. Ponticelli, deputy undersecretary for the department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). "At a time when 211 million children work, it is important that America's trading partners support open economies that generate healthful and safe workplaces promoting education and training over exploitive labor practices."

ILAB prepared the department's 2006 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor under the child labor reporting requirement of the Trade and Development Act of 2000. The act requires trade-beneficiary countries and territories to implement their international commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.

As defined by the International Labor Organization Convention 182, the worst forms of child labor include any form of slavery, such as forced or indentured child labor; the trafficking of children and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict; child prostitution and pornography; the use of children for illicit activities such as drug trafficking; and work that is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children.

This report presents information on the nature and extent of the worst forms of child labor in each of the 141 countries and territories and the efforts being made by their governments to eliminate these problems. The bureau's Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking collected data from a wide variety of sources, including U.S. embassies and consulates, foreign governments, nongovernmental organizations and international agencies. In addition, bureau staff conducted field visits to some countries covered in the report.

The report is available at www.dol.gov/ILAB/media/reports/iclp/main.htm. Beginning in October, limited printed copies will be available from the Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-5307, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20210; phone: (202) 693-4843; fax: (202) 693-4830; e-mail: GlobalKids@dol.gov.