The U.S. Chamber of Commerce decision to send a business delegation to Cuba this week disregards ongoing labor abuses and overwhelming state financial control in the country, said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., in a May 26 letter to Chamber President Thomas Donohue. The Cuban government has implemented only “cosmetic” changes to its economic policy in recent years as a means to attract “badly-needed foreign investment,” said Menendez.
The Labor Department Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking comment on some recently released reports about child labor and forced labor in foreign countries. Labor specifically wants comments on the following reports:
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) should release information that ensures that Uzbekistan-sourced cotton is not produced through child and forced labor, the main U.S. and Canadian purchasers of Bangladeshi cotton said Sept. 20 in a letter to the BGMEA. BGMEA plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Uzbek government, the letter says. The U.S. and Canadian groups cite reports that indicate Uzbekistan systematically traffics citizens for cotton harvest.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for July 22-26 in case they were missed.
The Labor Department updated its list of goods it believes to have been produced by child labor or forced labor to add four goods (cattle from South Sudan, dried fish from Bangladesh, fish from Ghana, garments from Vietnam, and gold and wolframite from the Democratic Republic of Congo). The full report, including the updated list and a discussion of the list’s context, scope, methodology, and limitations, as well as frequently asked questions and a bibliography of sources, is available on the DOL website (here). The Federal Register notice is (here)
A majority of stakeholders urged caution in possibly extending Generalized System of Preferences benefits to Myanmar (Burma) in comments filed us the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). They said the country’s progress towards good governance, while admirable, is tenuous and remains fraught with concerns over worker’s rights and military power. The USTR posted comments on its review to extend GSP to Myanmar (Burma) and Laos May 22. USTR is holding a public hearing in connection with its review June 4 (see 13041521).
CBP should prohibit the import of cotton yarn and fabric from Uzbekistan because the cotton is harvested by forced labor, said the International Labor Rights Forum and Cotton Campaign in a letter to the agency (here). The groups say cotton processors in Uzbekistan use only forced labor to manufacture the cotton and fabric. The government-run cotton industry requires its citizens to work in the cotton production system or potentially face a number of disciplinary actions, including loss of state welfare and physical abuse, they said. A press release on the complaint is (here).
The Labor Department updated its list of goods it believes to have been produced by child labor or forced labor to add four goods (baked goods, beef, fish and thread/yarn), from 3 countries (South Sudan, Suriname and Vietnam). The full report, including the updated list and a discussion of the list’s context, scope, methodology, and limitations, as well as frequently asked questions and a bibliography of sources, will be available on the DOL website here.
The Labor Department’s Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) is requesting comments and information related to an allegation that the Dominican Republic failed to fulfill its obligations under the labor chapter of the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) (here). Specifically, the submission alleges that the Government of the Dominican Republic failed to fulfill its obligations under the labor chapter through actions or lack thereof that denied workers in the sugar sector their rights under the laws of the Dominican Republic relating to freedom of association, the right to organize, child labor, forced labor, the right to bargain collectively, and acceptable conditions of work. Comments are due by July 2.
The Labor Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) is seeking public comments and relevant information to assist it in updating three reports on child and forced labor in foreign countries: (i) one on the worst forms of child labor, (ii) another on goods believed to be produced by forced and/or child labor; and (iii) products needing Federal contractor certification. Comments are due by March 9, 2012.