FY 1995 to 2006 appropriations for the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) have included approximately $330 million for the International Labor Organization's International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO/IPEC) for technical cooperation projects in the area of international child labor:

$2.1 million in 1995
$1.5 million in 1996
$1.5 million in 1997
$3.0 million in 1998
$29 million in 1999
$30 million in 2000
$45 million in 2001
$45 million in 2002
$45 million in 2003
$45 million in 2004
$45 million in 2005
$38 million in 2006

These funds are used to support a wide range of child labor projects and activities in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. USDOL support to ILO/IPEC has focused on the following five areas:

• Eliminating Child Labor in Specific Sectors (Sector-Specific Projects)

• Eliminating the Worst Forms of Child Labor in Countries in a Specified Period of Time (Timebound Programs)

• Enabling more countries to Effectively Participate in IPEC (Country Programs)

• Assessing the Magnitude and Nature of Child Labor (SIMPOC)

• Increasing Public Awareness about Child Labor (Worldwide Awareness Raising)

1. Sector-Specific Projects

The objective of these initiatives is to remove children from work in hazardous or exploitative sectors as well as support credible monitoring and tracking systems to ensure children do not return to the workplace. IPEC is providing assistance to thousands of working children and their families, including educational opportunities, vocational training, and income-generating opportunities for the families. Projects involve innovative partnerships, and often cost-sharing, among governments, labor and industry groups, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

2. Country Programs

Under this initiative, a number of countries that have demonstrated a political commitment to addressing their child labor problem are provided technical assistance by IPEC. With U.S. funding, IPEC is enhancing the ability of these countries to develop, carry out, and enforce national policies, and plans of action to combat child labor. National steering committees with the participation of government, labor and industry groups as well as NGOs are established to develop and oversee the implementation of the national plans of action. Initially, a selected number of working children are targeted and provided with educational opportunities.

3. SIMPOC and Research

An essential step towards developing effective strategies to eliminate and prevent child labor is accurately documenting the extent and nature of the problem. Reliable child labor data is needed for governments and international organizations to develop programs and monitor progress. Towards this effort, the Department of Labor is funding national child labor surveys through the ILO's Statistical Information and Monitoring Program on Child Labor (SIMPOC).

4. Timebound Programs

Beginning in 2001, ILO/IPEC began implementing comprehensive national timebound programs, with the first of these programs launched in El Salvador, Nepal and Tanzania. These programs consist of a set of integrated initiatives that are intended to show visible results in the elimination of the worst forms of child labor in countries in a specified period of time. In the implementation of these programs, DOL and ILO/IPEC seek new partnerships with other international organizations and financial institutions to join in efforts to combat child labor and bring together additional resources on basic education, school feeding programs, and school-based child health and nutrition programs. Since 2001, new Timebound Programs have been initiated in the Dominican Republic (2002), the Philippines (2002), Senegal (2003), Indonesia (2003), Pakistan (2003), Brazil (2003), South Africa (2003), Ecuador (2003), and Turkey (2003).

5. Worldwide Awareness Raising

Public awareness and education campaigns on the local, national and international levels are essential to combating child labor. IPEC is producing printed and audio-visual materials and organizing events to broaden public understanding of the problem and encourage governments to adopt innovative approaches for eliminating child labor. Activities under this initiative are global in scope.

For a complete list of ILO/IPEC projects funded by USDOL from FY 1995 to FY 2002, click here.

For a list of child labor projects funded by USDOL in 2003, including ILO/IPEC projects, click here.

For a list of child labor projects funded by USDOL in 2004, including ILO/IPEC projects, click here.

For a list of child labor projects funded by USDOL in 2005, including ILO/IPEC projects, click here.