[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E691-E692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 1, 2001

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong 
support for the United Nations' International Labor Organization (ILO) 
Worldwide Workers' Rights public awareness poster campaign. The goal of 
this initiative is not only to make people aware of the shameful 
atrocities workers suffer around the world, but to say that all workers 
have basic, fundamental rights. The right to form a union, bargain 
collectively, work free of discrimination, refuse forced labor, and to 
reject child labor. These moral and humane worker rights should and 
must be honored both in the job field and during international trade 
and other agreements. We cannot look the other way when these issues 
come before us.
  I would like to ask my colleagues how they would feel if their 
family, loved ones, and children were forced to work under conditions 
where basic labor and human rights were eroded by the lack of 
enforceable labor protections. Unfortunately, the ILO estimates that 
about 250 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are in the 
workforce, half of which are employed full-time, often in dangerous 
industries. During hearings I held as Chairman of the House 
Subcommittee on International Relations and Human Rights in previous 
sessions of Congress it became obvious that children often labor under 
unsafe conditions. These young people frequently go to work in 
dangerous factories or mines, not to mention

[[Page E692]]

the despicable business of child pornography and prostitution. 
Legislation I introduced, which was passed by the full House, would 
have authorized $30 million per year from fiscal years 1999 to 2001 for 
the International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC). 
This organization has identified the need for specific programs in 
dangerous industries where child labor is prevalent.
  While well intentioned efforts have been made on behalf of these 
children, not enough has been done. Child labor continues to grow in 
many countries around the world. Regrettably, some of the trade 
agreements approved by Congress, such as the North America Free Trade 
Agreement (NAFTA), General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and 
Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for China, have 
compounded the worldwide child labor problem. Unfortunately, the idea 
of linking worker rights and child labor laws with trade policy is 
still in the early stage of development.
  Nations should not be recognized and rewarded with profitable trade 
agreements for their systematic violation of internationally recognized 
workers' rights. These rights must be considered when we discuss plans 
to expand NAFTA or address our current trade relation agreements with 
The Peoples Republic of China. Although on paper, virtually every 
country in the world has outlawed child labor in its cruelest forms, in 
reality, hundreds of millions of children are still being robbed of 
childhood for the profit of others.
  We can no longer look the other way when basic fundamental labor and 
children rights are denied or broken. These rights must be addressed 
head-on and in the most straightforward way. Mr. Speaker, I urge my 
colleagues to pledge their active support for the basic labor rights 
brought to the forefront by the ILO's declaration on fundamental 
principles and rights at work.

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