[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10533-S10534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 106-5

  Mr. BROWNBACK. As in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that 
the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following convention 
transmitted to the Senate on August 5, 1999, by the President of the 
United States, that being Convention No. 182 for Elimination of the 
Worst Forms of Child Labor, Treaty Document 106-5. I further ask that 
the convention be considered as having been read the first time, that 
it be referred, with accompanying papers, to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations, and the President's message be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The message of the President is as follows:

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:

[[Page S10534]]

  --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.

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