    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [February 19, 1991]
    [Pages 154-155]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate on the International Labor Organization Convention
    Concerning the Abolition of Forced Labor
    February 19, 1991

    To the Senate of the United States:
        The Convention (No. 105) Concerning the Abolition of Forced Labor,
    adopted by the International Labor Conference at Geneva on June 25,
    1957, was transmitted to the Senate by President Kennedy on July 22,
    1963, with a view to receiving advice and consent to ratification.
    Although hearings were held in 1967 by the Committee on Foreign
    Relations, the Senate has not acted further on the Convention.
        Now, 23 years later, I urge the Senate to consider anew this
    important Convention and to grant its advice and consent to
    ratification. Given the length of time that has elapsed, I enclose a new
    report from the Secretary of State concerning the Convention.
        The report of the Secretary of State also contains the texts of two
    proposed understandings. As explained more fully in the accompanying
    letter from the Secretary of Labor, the law and practice of the United
    States fully conform to all obligations contained in the Convention (a
    copy of the Convention is included as an enclosure to this letter).
    Ratification of this Convention, therefore, would not require the United
    States to alter in any way its law or practice in this field. However,
    to remove the possibility that certain ambiguities might arise after
    ratification, it is proposed that ratification of the Convention be made
    subject to these understandings.
        Ratification by the United States of select- ed Conventions of the
    International Labor Organization (ILO) enhances our ability to take
    other governments to task for failing to comply with ILO instruments
    they have ratified. In part for this reason, the Senate has in recent
    years given its advice and consent to the ratification of ILO Conven-

    [[Page 155]]

    tions 144, 147, and 160. I accordingly recommend that the Senate also
    give its advice and consent to the ratification of ILO Convention 105.

                                                                 George Bush

    The White House,
    February 19, 1991.