[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 79 (Monday, April 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 20327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10377]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Bureau of International Labor Affairs; Request for Information
This document is a request for information regarding a study being
conducted by the Department of Labor on the economic benefits that
would result from the elimination of abusive and exploitative child
labor and increased enrollment of children in school. The Department is
now accepting written information on this subject matter from all
interested parties preparing written submissions.
The Department of Labor is currently undertaking a Congressionally-
mandated study on the economic benefit to individual countries and to
possible global benefits (pursuant to Senate Report 105-300, p.35,
accompanying the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and
Education and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 1999). The report
for this annual Appropriations law reads, in part:
The Committee recognizes the value of the reports completed by
the Bureau of International Labor Affairs in recent years
documenting the incidence of international child labor in various
industries and countries, and some of the innovative approaches to
reduce the use of abusive and exploitative child labor such as codes
of conduct and labeling initiatives. While obstacles such as poverty
and limited family income contribute to child labor, it is clear
that child labor imposes large economic cost by continuing the cycle
of poverty and denying educational opportunities to millions of
children. Consequently, the Committee requests that the Bureau
undertake a study on the economic benefits that could be realized
from the elimination of abusive and exploitative child labor and the
increased enrollment of these children in school. The study should
look at the economic benefits to individual countries and to
possible global benefits, in particular U.S. trade, that would
result from the elimination of abusive and exploitative child labor.
The analysis could include appropriate case or country studies, as
appropriate.
Information provided through public submission will be considered
by the Department of Labor in preparing its report. Materials submitted
should be confined to the specific topic of the study. In particular,
the Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking
written submissions on the topics noted below:
1. Factors that determine whether a child works, particularly the
relationship between the availability and quality of schooling and the
incidence of child labor.
2. Description of government policy decisions that affect the
quality or availability of schooling, either to all children or to
specific groups.
3. Studies on the economic cost associated with child labor and
possible return from transitioning children from work to school.
This notice is a general solicitation of comments from the public.
DATES: Submitters of information are requested to provide two (2)
copies of their written submission to the Child Labor Program by 5:00
p.m., on May 26, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Written testimony should be addressed to Kevin Willcutts at
the International Child Labor Program, Bureau of International Labor
Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-
5303, Washington, DC 20210.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Willcutts, International Child
Labor Program, Bureau of International Labor Affairs at (202)208-4843;
fax (202)219-4923. The Department of Labor's prior child labor reports
can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov/dol/ilab/public/
programs/iclp/ or can be obtained from the International Child Labor
Program.
Signed at Washington, DC this 20th day of April, 1999.
Andrew J. Samet,
Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-10377 Filed 4-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-P
