US Labor Department seeks feedback on international child labor, forced labor, and forced or indentured child labor

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) today announced that it is publishing two related requests for information (RFIs) from the public in advance of developing reports to Congress and the president. One RFI seeks information on goods produced in foreign countries by child labor, forced labor, and/or forced or indentured child labor. The other focuses on certain countries' efforts to implement their international commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. Notices of the RFIs will appear in the Feb. 24 edition of the Federal Register.

ILAB will use information received in response to the first RFI, as appropriate, to maintain two lists: the department's list of goods produced by child labor or forced labor in violation of international standards, pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (TVPRA); and the list of products produced by forced or indentured child labor, as required by Executive Order 13126. ILAB's first TVPRA report, published on Sept. 10, 2009, can be found at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/programs/ocft/tvpra.htm. The current list, procedural guidelines and proposed update to the Executive Order 13126 list of products can be reviewed at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/regs/eo13126/main.htm.

Information received in response to the second RFI will be used, as appropriate, to develop the department's ninth annual report pursuant to the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (TDA). Previous TDA reports can be found at: http://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/main.htm.

Written documentation responding to the RFIs should be submitted by April 9 to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Room S-5317, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210, Attention Tina McCarter or Leyla Strotkamp. The public also may submit information by e-mail to Tina McCarter at mccarter.tina@dol.gov or Leyla Strotkamp at strotkamp.leyla@dol.gov or by fax to 202-693-4830.