SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Officials from the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic today held the first meeting of the Labor Affairs Council established under the Dominican RepublicCentral AmericaUnited States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).

The council is responsible for overseeing the implementation of, and for reviewing progress under, the Labor Chapter of the DR-CAFTA, including the activities of the Labor Cooperation and Capacity Building Mechanism established under the Labor Chapter.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $4,610,000 in funding to promote worker rights initiatives and more than $115,000 to study the employment effects of trade in services.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor is awarding more than $58 million in fiscal year 2008 grants to combat hazardous and exploitive child labor in countries around the world. The grants will save children from and prevent them from entering exploitive labor by providing education and other services. Some of the funding also will be used to collect reliable data and strengthen the capacity of governments to address the problem.

Report required under Trade and Development Act of 2000

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) today released its seventh annual report on efforts being made to combat the worst forms of child labor by governments in 141 countries and territories that receive U.S. trade benefits.

Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Charlotte Ponticelli to lead U.S. delegation

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The U.S. Department of Labor, the Ministry of Labor and Employment in Brazil, and the Organization of American States (OAS) jointly will host a seminar on youth employment in Rio de Janeiro from Tuesday, May 20, through Wednesday, May 21. Charlotte M. Ponticelli, the Labor Department's deputy undersecretary for International Affairs, will lead the U.S. delegation.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor will hold a public hearing on May 28 at 10:30 a.m. EDT to collect information on the use of child labor and forced labor worldwide in the production of goods. The hearing will take place at the department's headquarters at 200 Constitution Ave. N.W. in Washington. The department is accepting requests to attend from all interested parties.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The U.S. Department of Labor today launched a new $4 million project to support public-private partnerships in the Dominican Republic aimed at preventing hazardous child labor.

"This project will make the dream of schooling a reality for thousands of children in need and help break the cycle of poverty," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "As a direct result of U.S. Department of Labor initiatives, more than one million children worldwide have been rescued from exploitive child labor."

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has competed and awarded more than $54 million in fiscal year 2007 grants to combat hazardous and exploitive child labor in countries around the world. The grants will facilitate the collection of reliable data and provide children in need with access to quality basic education and vocational training opportunities.

"These $54 million in grants continue our efforts to eliminate abusive child labor practices around the world," said Secretary Chao.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — During the XV Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor today in Port of Spain, Deputy Undersecretary of Labor for International Affairs Charlotte Ponticelli discussed how the U.S. Department of Labor is working in strategic partnerships with regional economies throughout the United States to ensure a competitive and adaptable workforce in the 21st century.

Report required under Trade and Development Act

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today released its sixth annual report on the worst forms of child labor in 141 countries and territories that receive U.S. trade benefits.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced the appointment of Charlotte M. (Charlie) Ponticelli as deputy undersecretary for international affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor's International Labor Affairs Bureau.

Previously, Ponticelli served for almost four years as the U.S. Department of State's senior coordinator for international women's issues, followed by a year as senior advisor to the assistant secretary for population, refugees and migration.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced the funding of a $4.3 million project to oversee public and private efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in the cocoa sector.

Report Required Under the Trade and Development Act

WASHINGTON — The Labor Department today released its fifth annual report on the worst forms of child labor in 137 countries and territories that receive U.S. trade benefits.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) today expressed support for the decision by the United States Trade Representative not to accept a petition filed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 regarding workers' rights in the People's Republic of China. Deputy Secretary Steven J. Law noted significant cooperation between the U.S. and the People's Republic of China on a number of worker protection issues over the last few years, and pledged to continue to work together to build on the progress that has been made.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced today a new leadership team at the Labor Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). James Carter starts this week as deputy undersecretary of labor for international labor affairs, and ILAB Chief of Staff Rob Owen has been promoted to associate deputy undersecretary for international labor affairs.

WASHINGTON — Deputy Labor Secretary Steven J. Law pointed out at a Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing today the enormous challenges that China faces as the worlds most populous country in combating human trafficking. Law was appointed to the Commission by President George W. Bush in 2004.

Given the enormous size of Chinas population, there is an urgent need to deal with human trafficking issues now, Law said. As migration within and outside the country expands, the problem of human trafficking has the potential to escalate immensely.

Also Cites Progress Made Against This Terrible Form of Modern-Day Slavery

WASHINGTON—Speaking today at the Conference on Trafficking in Persons in North America, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao outlined the international scope of human trafficking and the Department's efforts to combat it.

The evil of trafficking in human beings must be stopped, Chao said. The worldwide incidence of men, women and children being enslaved demands a vigorous and sustained international effort to rescue victims and protect future generations.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced a $9 million grant to the International Labor Organization (ILO) to implement workplace-based HIV/AIDS programs around the world.

In addition to being a serious health issue, HIV/AIDS is also an economic issue, said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. Because the rate of infection is highest among the working-age population, this disease has a significant impact on the worldwide labor force.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced $18.65 million in grants to combat human trafficking around the world. The overall amount includes $3.75 million awarded to three non-government organizations to implement anti-trafficking projects in Brazil, Cambodia, Moldova, and Sierra Leone, and $14.9 million to combat trafficking of children for exploitative labor in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific.

Grants Fund Education Programs in Africa and Latin America To Help Child Labor Victims

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced the award of $23 million in grants to World Vision and Catholic Relief Services for education programs in Africa and Latin America. The Labor Department awarded these grants under its Child Labor Education Initiative through a competitive bidding process.