The Department of Labor has published three new reports containing details on countries where child or forced labor is used to make hundreds of goods that end up in the US.
The three reports released include:
- "List of Goods Produced by Child or Forced Labor" required by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (aka the TVPRA). This list informs the public about 122 goods from 58 countries that ILAB has reason to believe are produced by forced labor, child labor or both in violation of international standards.
- An update to the "List of Products Produced by Forced or Indentured Child Labor" (EO List) pursuant to Executive Order 13126 of 1999. The list includes 29 products from 21 countries and will be available for public comment beginning Sept. 11.
- 8th annual "Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor" as mandated by the Trade and Development Act of 2000 on the efforts of 141 countries and territories to combat exploitive child labor.
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis encourages the trade community to stay informed on the subject in order to prevent importing and sourcing from countries or suppliers who utilize child or forced labor.
"It is my strong hope that consumers, firms, governments, labor unions and other stakeholders will use this information to translate their economic power into a force for good that ultimately will eliminate abusive child labor and forced labor," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.
Sourcing from suppliers who are following labor laws is another part of being a compliant, responsible importer.
- Visit Yahoo! News for the summary article, "Labor Department exposes goods made by child labor."
- To read the complete reports, visit the Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs.
