[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5624]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 10, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Bureau of International Labor Affairs
AGENCY: Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Labor.
ACTION: Announcement of public hearings.
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SUMMARY: This document is an announcement of public hearings to be held
by the Department of Labor for the purpose of gathering factual
information regarding child labor practices throughout the world. The
hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 1994, at the Department of
Labor, room N-3437, beginning at 10 am. The hearing will be open to the
public. The Department of Labor is now accepting requests from all
sectors to provide oral testimony at the hearing. Each person or
organizational representative selected will be provided ten minutes for
oral testimony. 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.
Specifically, the international child labor study of the Bureau of
International Labor Affairs is seeking written and oral testimony
concerning children working in manufacturing and mining industries
which export to the United States. The Department of Labor is currently
undertaking a Congressionally-mandated review to identify any foreign
industry and their host country that utilize child labor in the export
of manufactured products from industry or mining to the United States
(pursuant to the 1994 Department of Labor Appropriations Bill--Pub. L.
103-112). 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. The Department's
report is due to be presented to Congress by July 15, 1994. Individuals
or organizations interested in testifying at the international child
labor hearing, please call the Child Labor Study office at (202) 208-
6152 to be put on the roster.
DATES: The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 12, 1994. If
necessary to accommodate the requests received, a second day of
hearings will be held on Wednesday, April 13. Presenters will be
required to submit five (5) written copies of their oral testimony to
the Child Labor Study office by 10 am, April 11. The record will be
kept open for additional written testimony until April 18, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Written testimony should be addressed to the International
Child Labor Study, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, rm. S-1308,
U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sonia A. Rosen, International Child Labor Study, Bureau of
International Labor Affairs, room S-1308, U.S. Department of Labor,
Washington, DC 20210, telephone: (202) 208-6152; fax (202) 219-4923.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Senate Appropriations Committee report
states: [T]he Committee notes that in many developing countries
children represent a substantial portion of the work force and can be
found in such industries as glass, metal works, textiles, mining, and
fireworks manufacturing. According to UNICEF and the International
Labor Organization hundreds of millions of children worldwide under the
age of 15 are employed.
The Committee understands that child labor laws in many countries
around the globe are often not enforced or are circumvented by foreign
manufacturers. The Committee also understands that many products made
by child labor are being imported into the United States. The Committee
believes that (1) since the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act of
1938, Congress' intent has been to keep the streams of labor undefiled
by the products of child labor; (2) American consumers do not want to
provide a market for goods produced by the sweat and toil of children;
and that (3) adult workers in the United States should not have their
jobs imperiled by imports produced by child labor in developing
countries. The Committee also believes, however, that more information
is needed about the extent of the problem and what foreign industries
are exporting products made whole or in part by child labor to the
United States.
The Committee, therefore, * * * directs the Secretary of Labor to
undertake a review to identify any foreign industry and their host
country that utilize child labor in the export of manufactured products
from industry or mining to the United States. In making this review,
the Secretary is directed to utilize all available information,
including information made available by the International Labor
Organization and human rights organizations. The Secretary is directed
to report his findings to the Committee no later than July 15, 1994.
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 2d day of March, 1994.
Jack Otero,
Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-5624 Filed 3-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-M
