I commend the Pakistani Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the International Labor Organization on their agreement to end child labor in the carpet industry in Pakistan. This program will include the two elements that I believe are pivotal to success--phasing children out of the industry and into educational opportunities, and instituting an independent compliance monitoring system. We found those two components to be critical in the ground breaking programs the U.S. Department of Labor funded through the International Program for the Elimination of Child Labor(IPEC) in the Bangladeshi garment industry and the Pakistani soccer ball industry.

As you know, President Clinton has placed a high priority on combating child labor at home and abroad. In our fiscal year 1999 budget, the President requested and got a tenfold increase in our support for IPEC, to $30 million. This is a concrete measure of President Clinton's determination to make the U.S. the world's leader in the fight to end abusive child labor around the globe. We at the Department of Labor, in turn, share that determination and look forward to working with partners such as the Association and the ILO to establish and fund innovative programs like this one.

Today's agreement is tremdously important to Pakistan's children and its future. Congratulations to everyone who has worked to make this possible.