[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-

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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.