WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a competitive solicitation for a $5 million cooperative agreement to pilot test the U.S. Department of Agriculture's guidelines to reduce child labor and forced labor in imported agricultural products.

WASHINGTON — During a ceremony today at U.S. Department of Labor headquarters in Washington, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis signed partnership agreements with ambassadors representing the embassies of Honduras, the Philippines, Peru and Ecuador.

"Migrant workers make important contributions to our economy," said Secretary Solis. "Today's agreements help ensure these workers are aware of the right to safe workplaces and to receive full payment of the wages owed to them under the laws of the United States."

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on data regarding forced labor that have been issued by the International Labor Organization:

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the election of Guy Ryder as director-general of the International Labor Organization:

"I extend my congratulations to Guy Ryder on his election as the new director-general of the International Labor Organization and wish him the greatest success in his new position. Mr. Ryder has been a great advocate of the world's working people, both as a trade union leader and in his work at the ILO.

MUSCAT, Oman — The U.S. Department of Labor and the Oman Ministry of Manpower convened the first meeting of the Subcommittee on Labor Affairs on April 24 in Muscat. Representatives at the meeting reaffirmed their commitments under the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement to recognize and protect the rights stated in the International Labor Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs has published a revised list of products that federal contractors must certify under Executive Order 13126 are not produced with forced or indentured child labor. The list appears in the April 3 issue of the Federal Register.

WASHINGTON — Documentary filmmaker Len Morris received the 2011 Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor during a ceremony today at U.S. Department of Labor headquarters. Deputy Undersecretary of Labor for International Affairs Sandra Polaski presented the award, which honors Morris for producing and editing groundbreaking documentaries that highlight the plight of child laborers around the world.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and Minister of Labour and Employment Mallikarjun Kharge of the Republic of India today signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on future labor and employment issues.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today met with Colombia Minister of Labor Rafael Pardo to discuss Colombia's recent achievements in protecting workers' rights and to address the challenges that remain. She highlighted the ongoing technical cooperation between the U.S. Department of Labor and Colombia's Labor Ministry, and announced the award of a $2 million grant to the International Labour Organization to develop a robust presence in Colombia.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has awarded a $13 million cooperative agreement to nongovernmental organization Desarrollo y Autogestión to combat exploitative child labor in Peru. To implement the project, Desarrollo y Autogestión will partner with World Learning, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, and DESCO, a development organization.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has awarded a $10 million cooperative agreement to World Vision to combat exploitative child labor in Ethiopia that will focus on child labor in rural areas and the traditional weaving industry.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has announced a $13 million competitive solicitation for cooperative agreements to combat exploitative child labor in Peru, including supporting efforts to address poverty and promote social inclusion.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has awarded $1.5 million to Development Alternatives International Inc. of Bethesda, Md., to extend the existing Vietnam Industrial Relations Promotion Project by an additional two years. The first phase of the project was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, joined by Sen. Tom Harkin, today released three new reports on child labor and forced labor, and announced $32.5 million in grants to combat child labor around the world.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has announced a $10 million competitive solicitation for cooperative agreements to combat exploitative child labor in Ethiopia, with a focus on the weaving industry and rural areas of the country.

Ceremony coincides with start of Labor Rights Week

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the decision to request an arbitral panel in a dispute over labor rights enforcement by Guatemala:

"I applaud U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk's decision today to request the establishment of an arbitral panel under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement in a dispute regarding the government of Guatemala's failure to effectively enforce its labor laws.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $15 million competitive solicitation for a cooperative agreement to support efforts to combat exploitative child labor in areas of sugarcane production in the Philippines.

Qualified organization(s) will implement technical assistance projects that aim to combat child labor by:

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $15 million competitive solicitation for a cooperative agreement to combat exploitative child labor internationally by implementing the Global Action Program. This initiative aims to advance and scale up ILAB's global efforts to reduce the prevalence of child labor and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations, including child domestic workers.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $2.5 million competitive solicitation for a cooperative agreement to evaluate and monitor child labor projects funded by the agency.