US Department of Labor announces $5 million in funding to reduce child domestic labor in South and Southeast Asia, solicits grant applications

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking eligible applicants under a $5 million competitive grant solicitation to reduce child domestic labor by building the capacity of domestic workers organizations in one or more countries in South Asia and/or Southeast Asia.

The funding will be used to promote decent work for domestic workers as part of a broader strategy to address legal, social and economic factors that contribute to the abuse of domestic workers and the exploitation of children in domestic service. It also will support efforts to increase legal protections for domestic workers and increase public awareness about the plight of child domestic workers.

Around the world, an estimated 50-100 million people are engaged in domestic work, including more than 15 million children. More than 60 percent of these child domestic laborers — or approximately 9 million children — work in Asia. They often work long hours under dangerous conditions. Many go without pay, receive little or no schooling, face isolation from family and friends, and endure harsh punishments and abuse, all while carrying out physically challenging labor.

Applications must be submitted by Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. EST electronically via http://www.grants.gov or as hard copies to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Procurement Services, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S-4307, Washington, DC 20210, Attention: Brenda White and James Kinslow.

All awards will be made by Dec. 31. The solicitation for grant applications (SGA 12-12) is available online at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/grants/main.htm and http://www.grants.gov.

Congress has appropriated funds for ILAB to conduct technical cooperation projects to combat child labor internationally. ILAB grants help rescue children from exploitative labor through the provision of education and other services. ILAB also supports the collection of reliable data on child labor and helps strengthen the capacity of governments to address child labor in a sustainable way.