United States Department of Labor

2012 Iqbal Masih Award

Solicitation of Nominations for the United States Department of Labor 2012 Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor

June 19, 2012

The United States Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) is soliciting nominations for the U.S. Department of Labor Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor (the Iqbal Masih Award). The Iqbal Masih Award is a non-monetary award presented annually by the United States Secretary of Labor. This page outlines the eligibility criteria, the nomination process and the administrative procedures for this year's award.

1. Background Information on the Award

The Iqbal Masih Award is administered by ILAB's Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT). The purpose of the Iqbal Masih Award is to recognize exceptional efforts to reduce the worst forms of child labor. The award was created in response to Senate Committee direction (Significant Report 110-107 DM/ILAB), that the Secretary of Labor:

establish an annual non-monetary award recognizing the extraordinary efforts by an individual, company, organization or national government toward the reduction of the worst forms of child labor. The award shall be named, ‘‘the United States Department of Labor's Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor.'' Iqbal Masih was a Pakistani carpet weaver sold into slavery at age four. He escaped from his servitude at age 12 and became an outspoken advocate against child slavery. He told the world of his plight when he received the Reebok Human Rights Award in 1994. He was tragically killed a year later at the age of 13 in his native Pakistan.

In view of inspiring and motivating those who are working to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, the award's two major goals are to:

1. Honor and give public recognition to a recipient demonstrating extraordinary efforts to combat the worst forms of child labor internationally, and who shares qualities demonstrated by Iqbal Masih including leadership, courage, integrity, and a search to end the labor exploitation of children, and;
2. Raise awareness about the worst forms of child labor internationally.

2. Eligibility

Nominees may include individuals, companies, organizations, or national governments. Nominations may be submitted by the nominee, or by other persons and entities with the knowledge and permission of the nominee.

3. Selection Criteria

Nominations for the Iqbal Masih Award will be judged by the extent that the nominee:

1. Implemented extraordinary efforts that contribute towards the reduction of the worst forms of child labor.
2. Generated positive international attention in support of efforts to reduce the worst forms of child labor.
3. Inspired others, including young persons, to become champions against the worst forms of child labor, following the spirit and example of Iqbal Masih.
4. Fomented constructive change regarding the labor exploitation of children under great odds or at great personal cost.

4. Nomination Submission Requirements

Nominations must identify the person or entity submitting the nomination and the proposed candidate, and include a written justification statement. Nomination packages should be limited to information relevant to the nominee. Nomination packages should be no longer than two (2) typed pages double-spaced. A page is 8.5" x 11" (on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides).

Nomination packages must include the following for consideration:

1. A data summary on the nominee. The data summary must include the following:
   1. Name(s) of the individual, company, organization or national government being nominated.
   2. Full street address, telephone number and e-mail address of nominee.
   3. Name, title, street address, telephone number and e-mail address of the person or organization submitting the nomination.
2. A summary about the nominee which clearly identifies the specific attributes of the nominee relevant to the selection criteria as listed in Section 3 of this announcement.

Timing and Acceptable Methods of Submission of Nominations

Nominations may be submitted electronically or in hard copy.

1. Electronic applications must be e-mailed to iqbal.masih.award@dol.gov and received no later than 4:45 p.m. EDT on July 31, 2012.
2. Hard copy nomination packages must be submitted by July 31, 2012 to:

The United States Department of Labor's Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor
Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking
Room S-5317
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20210

Any hard copy application received after 4:45 p.m. EDT on July 31, 2012 will not be considered unless it was received before the award is made and:

1. It was sent by registered or certified mail no later than July 16, 2012.
2. It is determined by the Government that the late receipt was due solely to mishandling by the Government after receipt at the U.S. Department of Labor at the address indicated; or
3. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day Service--Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5 p.m. EDT at the place of mailing, July 30, 2012.

The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a late application sent by registered or certified mail is the U.S. Postal Service postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. If the postmark is not legible, an application received after the above closing time and date will be processed as if mailed late. "Postmark" means a printed, stamped, or otherwise placed impression (not a postage meter machine impression) that is readily identifiable without further action as having been applied and affixed by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service on the date of mailing. Therefore, applicants should request that the postal clerk place a legible hand cancellation "bull's-eye" postmark on both the receipt and the envelope or wrapper.

The only acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the U.S. Department of Labor is the date/time stamp of ILAB/OCFT on the application wrapper or other documentary evidence or receipt maintained by that office. Applications sent by other delivery services, such as Federal Express, UPS, etc., will also be accepted; however, the applicant bears the responsibility of timely submission.

Confirmation of receipt of your application can be made by contacting Deborah Maresko by email at maresko.deborah.j@dol.gov, telephone (202) 693-4785, or through the OCFT main telephone (202) 693-4843, prior to the closing deadline.

The U.S. Department of Labor will also consider nomination packages from previous years that were deemed responsive but not yet selected for award. Applicants may submit updated nomination packages for previous nominees.

5. The Nomination Review Process

ILAB/OCFT will perform a preliminary administrative review to determine the sufficiency of all submitted application packages relative to the Nomination Submission Requirements listed in Section 4 of this announcement. A panel of ILAB/OCFT representatives will conduct a substantive review of the nominations received relative to the criteria listed in Section 3 and will identify a short list of candidates to be considered. ILAB will perform a secondary review to determine the semi-finalists. The Secretary of Labor will conduct the final review and select the award recipient.

6. Other Factors to be Considered During the Administrative Review Process:

Receipt of this award will not preclude a nominee from being considered for the Iqbal Masih Award in subsequent years. Specific accomplishments that served as the basis of a prior award, however, may not be considered as the basis for a subsequent award application.

7. Procedures Following Selection:

The awardee will be notified of selection via the contact person identified in the application package at least four weeks prior to the presentation of the award.

8. Location of Award Ceremony:

The Department of Labor anticipates that the award ceremony will be held in late 2012 at a location to be determined by the Secretary of Labor.

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice (Pub. L. 104-13): Persons are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. This collection of information is approved under OMB Number 1290-0007 (Expiration Date: 12/31/2012). The obligation to respond to this information collection is voluntary; however, only nominations that follow the nomination procedures outlined in this notice will receive consideration. The average time to respond to this information of collection is estimated to be 10 hours per response; including the time for reviewing instructions, researching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Submit comments regarding this estimate; including suggestions for reducing response time or for improving any aspect of this collection of information to the Departmental Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Room N-1301, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington DC 20210 or email to DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov. PLEASE DO NOT SEND COMPLETED NOMINATIONS TO THIS ADDRESS.

We are very interested in your thoughts and suggestions about your experience in preparing and filing this nomination packet for the United States Department of Labor's Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor. Your comments will be very useful to ILAB/OCFT in making improvements in our solicitation for nominations for this award in subsequent years. All comments are strictly voluntary and strictly private. We would appreciate your taking a few minutes to tell us--for example, whether you thought the instructions were sufficiently clear; what you liked or disliked; what worked or didn't work; whether it satisfied your need for information or if it didn't, or anything else that you think is important for us to know. Your comments will be most helpful if you can be very specific in relating your experience.

Please send any comments you have to iqbal.masih.award@dol.gov or via mail to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking, Room S-5317, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.