[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5624]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 10, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

 

Bureau of International Labor Affairs

AGENCY: Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Labor.

ACTION: Announcement of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: This document is an announcement of public hearings to be held 
by the Department of Labor for the purpose of gathering factual 
information regarding child labor practices throughout the world. The 
hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 1994, at the Department of 
Labor, room N-3437, beginning at 10 am. The hearing will be open to the 
public. The Department of Labor is now accepting requests from all 
sectors to provide oral testimony at the hearing. Each person or 
organizational representative selected will be provided ten minutes for 
oral testimony. The Department is not able to provide financial 
assistance to those wishing to travel to attend the hearing. Those 
unable to attend the hearing are invited to submit written testimony.
    Specifically, the international child labor study of the Bureau of 
International Labor Affairs is seeking written and oral testimony 
concerning children working in manufacturing and mining industries 
which export to the United States. The Department of Labor is currently 
undertaking a Congressionally-mandated review to identify any foreign 
industry and their host country that utilize child labor in the export 
of manufactured products from industry or mining to the United States 
(pursuant to the 1994 Department of Labor Appropriations Bill--Pub. L. 
103-112). Information provided at the hearing will be considered by the 
Department of Labor in preparing its report to Congress. Testimony 
should be confined to the specific topic of the study. The Department's 
report is due to be presented to Congress by July 15, 1994. Individuals 
or organizations interested in testifying at the international child 
labor hearing, please call the Child Labor Study office at (202) 208-
6152 to be put on the roster.

DATES: The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 12, 1994. If 
necessary to accommodate the requests received, a second day of 
hearings will be held on Wednesday, April 13. Presenters will be 
required to submit five (5) written copies of their oral testimony to 
the Child Labor Study office by 10 am, April 11. The record will be 
kept open for additional written testimony until April 18, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Written testimony should be addressed to the International 
Child Labor Study, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, rm. S-1308, 
U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sonia A. Rosen, International Child Labor Study, Bureau of 
International Labor Affairs, room S-1308, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Washington, DC 20210, telephone: (202) 208-6152; fax (202) 219-4923.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Senate Appropriations Committee report 
states: [T]he Committee notes that in many developing countries 
children represent a substantial portion of the work force and can be 
found in such industries as glass, metal works, textiles, mining, and 
fireworks manufacturing. According to UNICEF and the International 
Labor Organization hundreds of millions of children worldwide under the 
age of 15 are employed.
    The Committee understands that child labor laws in many countries 
around the globe are often not enforced or are circumvented by foreign 
manufacturers. The Committee also understands that many products made 
by child labor are being imported into the United States. The Committee 
believes that (1) since the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 
1938, Congress' intent has been to keep the streams of labor undefiled 
by the products of child labor; (2) American consumers do not want to 
provide a market for goods produced by the sweat and toil of children; 
and that (3) adult workers in the United States should not have their 
jobs imperiled by imports produced by child labor in developing 
countries. The Committee also believes, however, that more information 
is needed about the extent of the problem and what foreign industries 
are exporting products made whole or in part by child labor to the 
United States.
    The Committee, therefore, * * * directs the Secretary of Labor to 
undertake a review to identify any foreign industry and their host 
country that utilize child labor in the export of manufactured products 
from industry or mining to the United States. In making this review, 
the Secretary is directed to utilize all available information, 
including information made available by the International Labor 
Organization and human rights organizations. The Secretary is directed 
to report his findings to the Committee no later than July 15, 1994.
    All written or oral comments submitted pursuant to the public 
hearing will be made part of the record of review referred to above and 
will be available for public inspection.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 2d day of March, 1994.
Jack Otero,
Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-5624 Filed 3-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-M