The Labor Department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) has issued an initial determination with proposed revisions to its list of products requiring federal contractor certification as they might have been mined, produced, or manufactured by forced or indentured child labor.1
Deputy Undersecretary of Labor Polaski issued a statement on November 9, 2010 to clarify that contrary to a recent statement by India's Ministry of Textiles, the Labor Department has not yet made a final determination about whether carpets from India are produced with child labor, forced child labor, or forced labor.
1. President Identifies Major Drug Transit/Production Countries
The Labor Department has issued a final updated the list of products, by country of origin, which the Departments of Labor, State, and Homeland Security have a reasonable basis to believe “might have” been mined, produced or manufactured by forced or indentured child labor.
The Labor Department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking information by June 14, 2010 on the actions that firms, business associations, and other private sector groups are taking to reduce the likelihood of child labor and forced labor in the production of goods.
One of the five strategic goals of the Fiscal Year 2011 Department of Labor budget request is to "foster fair working conditions in the global marketplace." In support of this goal, the FY 2011 budget request includes increased funding for the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).
As part of its fiscal year 2011 budget justification document, the Department of Homeland Security listed numerous FY 2011 goals for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Highlights of those goals for ICE's Offices of Domestic and International Investigations include:
The Foreign Agricultural Service has issued a notice announcing that it will hold a public meeting of the Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products1 on March 29, 2010.
The Labor Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) has issued a notice seeking information on child labor and forced labor in foreign countries as part of its preparation to meet various reporting requirements.
The Labor Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has issued a report and initial list of 122 goods in 58 countries it has reason to believe are produced with forced labor, child labor, or both, in violation of international standards.