[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30813-30814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14960]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Treasury Advisory Committee on International Child Labor
Enforcement
AGENCY: Departmental Offices, Treasury.
ACTION: Proposed establishment of the Treasury Advisory Committee on
International Child Labor Enforcement (``the Committee'') and
solicitation of applications for committee membership.
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SUMMARY: The Treasury Department has determined that it is in the
public interest to establish an Advisory Committee on International
Child Labor Enforcement. A Charter for the Committee has been prepared
and will be filed 15 days following the date of publication of this
notice. This notices establishes criteria and procedures for the
selection of members.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dennis M. O'Connell, Director, Office of Tariff and Trade Affairs,
Office of the Under Secretary (Enforcement), (202) 622-0220. Pursuant
to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. I (1962), the
Under Secretary (Enforcement) proposes to establish the following
advisory committee:
Title: The Treasury Advisory Committee on International Child Labor
Enforcement.
Purpose: The purpose of the Committee is to present advice and
recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury regarding the
enforcement of restrictions on the importation of merchandise
manufactured in foreign countries using forced or indentured child
labor.
Statement of Public Interest: It is in the public interest to
establish, under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act,
the Advisory Committee on International Child Labor Enforcement for an
initial two-year term. The Committee will provide a critical forum for
distinguished representatives of nongovernmental organizations, private
businesses, trade associations, academia, and the public to present
their views on enforcement of the import restrictions on merchandise
manufactured overseas with forced or indentured child labor. These
views are offered directly to senior Treasury and Customs officials on
a regular basis in a candid atmosphere. There exists no other single
body that could serve a comparable function.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307) prohibits
the importation of ``goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined,
produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in any foreign country by
convict labor or/and forced labor or/and indentured labor under penal
sanctions * * *.'' The prohibition is enforced by the United States
Customs Service in accordance with the Customs Regulations, 19 CFR
12.42-12.48. A general provision in the Fiscal Year 1998 Treasury
Appropriations Act made explicit that merchandise manufactured with
``forced or indentured child labor'' falls within the prohibition of
Section 307, and also mandated that Customs not use any of the
appropriation to permit the importation into the United States of such
merchandise.
Following the enactment of the FY 1998 appropriations amendment
regarding child labor, both the Treasury Department and the National
Economic Council chaired in-depth interagency discussions aimed at
strengthening the capability of the Executive Branch to enforce the
prohibition on child labor imports. In his State of Union address on
January 27, 1998, President Clinton pledged to ``fight the most
intolerable labor practice of all--abusive child labor.'' The
establishment of the Committee is intended to create a
[[Page 30814]]
partnership between Executive agencies, labor and human rights advocacy
groups, industry representatives, and the public to promote effective
enforcement of the law and to further the President's commitment to
combat abusive child labor.
Objective, Scope and Description of the Committee
The Committee will advise the U.S. Treasury Department, the U.S.
Customs Service, and other Executive agencies, on measures to enhance
the effectiveness of enforcement of the import prohibition on
merchandise manufactured in foreign countries with forced or indentured
child labor. Among other matters, the Committee will assist in
identifying specific information resources regarding, and avenues of
productive inquiry into, prohibited child labor operations overseas. A
major objective of the Committee is to share the expertise of private
sector specialists regarding methods of operation employed, and
international trade channels used, by manufacturers and distributors of
merchandise produced with forced or indentured child labor. The
ultimate purpose of this combined effort is to support a vigorous law
enforcement initiative to stop illegal shipments of products of forced
or indentured child labor and to punish violators.
Among other things, the Committee may make recommendations in the
following areas. The Committee may consider additional governmental and
nongovernmental measures to prevent child labor imports. The Committee
may recommend measures and furnish information that will assist the
Executive agencies in establishing a vigorous outreach and educational
program calling upon industries and individuals in the private sector
to promote voluntary compliance with the child labor prohibition. The
Committee may explore avenues for encouraging the cooperation of both
foreign governments and foreign nongovernmental organizations in
nations where child labor is widely perceived to be a serious problem
in order to enlarge the reach and effectiveness of U.S. enforcement
efforts and resources.
Private sector members will be selected by the Secretary of the
Treasury from persons with expertise in the subject of the use of child
labor in foreign countries, particularly in the production of
merchandise for international trade and/or who have commercial
interests that may be affected by governmental enforcement measures.
Members will be drawn from such organizations as labor rights, human
rights, and child welfare groups; labor unions; affected private firms
and trade associations; academic experts and others who possess
relevant expertise and/or who represent affected constituencies.
Appointments will be made with the objective of creating a diverse and
balanced body with a variety of interests, backgrounds, and viewpoints
represented. In general, there will be at least twelve private sector
members and not more than twenty. The Committee also will include ex
officio members from relevant government agencies and entities.
The Committee will be chaired by the Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury for Enforcement who may designate another official to serve in
his absence as Acting Chairperson for purposes of presiding over a
meeting of the Committee or performing any other duty of the
Chairperson. The Committee will function for a two-year period before
renewal or termination. It will meet periodically, but generally not
more than four times per year, at the Treasury Department in
Washington. The Committee may elect to hold a meeting(s) at another
location if there is a consensus that this would further the objectives
of the Committee.
The meetings are open to public observers, including the press,
unless special procedures have been followed to close a meeting.
No person who is required to register under the Foreign Agents
Registration Act as an agent or representative of a foreign principal
may serve on an advisory committee. Members shall not be paid
compensation nor shall they be considered Federal Government employees
for any purpose. No per diem, transportation, or other expenses are
reimbursed for the cost of attending Committee meetings at any
location.
Membership on the Committee is personal to the appointee. Regular
attendance is essential to the effective operation of the Committee.
However, in the event of an unavoidable absence, a member may designate
an alternate to represent him or her at a meeting.
Application for Advisory Committee Appointment
Any interested person wishing to serve on the Treasury Advisory
Committee on International Child Labor Enforcement must provide the
following:
--Statement of interest and reasons for application;
--Complete professional biography or resume;
In addition, applicants must state in their applications that they
agree to submit to preappointment security and tax checks. There is no
prescribed format for the application. Applicants may send a cover
letter describing their interest and qualifications and enclosing a
resume.
The application period for interested candidates will extend to
July 10, 1998. Applications should be submitted in sufficient time to
be received by the close of business on the closing date and be
addressed to Dennis M. O'Connell, Director, Office of Tariff and Trade
Affairs, Office of the Under Secretary (Enforcement), Room 4004,
Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington,
D.C. 20220, Attention: CHILD 1998.
Dated: June 2, 1998.
Dennis M. O'Connell,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary (Regulatory, Tariff and Trade
Enforcement).
[FR Doc. 98-14960 Filed 6-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-M