[Senate Treaty Document 106-5]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



106th Congress                                              Treaty Doc.
                                 SENATE                     
 1st Session                                                   106-5
_______________________________________________________________________
                                     



 
CONVENTION (No. 182) FOR ELIMINATION OF THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

CONVENTION (No. 182) CONCERNING THE PROHIBITION AND IMMEDIATE ACTION 
  FOR THE ELIMINATION OF THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR, ADOPTED BY THE 
  INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE AT ITS 87TH SESSION IN GENEVA ON JUNE 
  17, 1999




August 5, 1999.--Convention was read the first time, and together with 
the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 
          and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate

                               __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
69-118* (STAR PRINT)       WASHINGTON : 1999


                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                   The White House, August 5, 1999.
To the Senate of the United States:
    With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the 
Senate to ratification of the Convention (No. 182) Concerning 
the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the 
Worst Forms of Child Labor, adopted by the International Labor 
Conference at its 87th Session in Geneva on June 17, 1999, I 
transmit herewith a certified copy of that Convention. I 
transmit also for the Senate's information a certified copy of 
a recommendation (No. 190) on the same subject, adopted by the 
International Labor Conference on the same date, which 
amplifies some of the Convention's provisions. No action is 
called for on the recommendation.
    The report of the Department of State, with a letter from 
the Secretary of Labor, concerning the Convention is enclosed.
    As explained more fully in the enclosed letter from the 
Secretary of Labor, current United States law and practice 
satisfy the requirements of Convention No. 182. Ratification of 
this Convention, therefore, should not require the United 
States to alter in any way its law or practice in this field.
    In the interest of clarifying the domestic application of 
the Convention, my Administration proposes that two 
understandings accompany U.S. ratification.
    The proposed understandings are as follows:

          The United States understands that Article 3(d) of 
        Convention 182 does not encompass situations in which 
        children are employed by a parent or by a person 
        standing in the place of a parent on a farm owned or 
        operated by such parent or person.
          The United States understands that the term ``basic 
        education'' in Article 7 of Convention 182 means 
        primary education plus one year: eight or nine years of 
        schooling based on curriculum and not age.

    These understandings would have no effect on our 
international obligations under Convention No. 182.
    Convention No. 182 represents a true breakthrough for the 
children of the world. Ratification of this instrument will 
enhance the ability of the United States to provide global 
leadership in the effort to eliminate the worst forms of child 
labor. I recommend that the Senate give its advice and consent 
to the ratification of ILO Convention No. 182.

                                                William J. Clinton.
    The White House, August 5, 1999.
                          LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                       Department of State,
                                         Washington, July 30, 1999.
The President,
The White House.
    The President: I have the honor to submit to you, with the 
recommendation that it be transmitted to the Senate for advice 
and consent to ratification, a certified copy of the Convention 
(No. 182) Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for 
the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor, adopted by 
the International Labor Conference at its 87th Session in 
Geneva on June 17, 1999. A certified copy of a recommendation 
(No. 190) amplifying some of the provisions of the convention 
is enclosed for the Senate's information.
    In general, the Convention obligates ratifying countries to 
take immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition 
and elimination of the worst forms of child labor as a matter 
of urgency. The Secretary of Labor, in her enclosed letter of 
July 8, 1999, provides additional details concerning the 
Convention. As she notes, ratification of Convention No. 182 
will be an important step in terms of U.S. participation in the 
ILO. All interested departments and agencies concur in that 
view.
    I am pleased to join with the Secretary of Labor in 
recommending that the Convention be transmitted to the Senate 
for advice and consent to ratification, a step which is 
consistent with our policy of support for and active 
participation in the work of the ILO.
    Respectfully submitted,
                                                      Frank E. Loy.


                                  

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