ILAB Federal Register Notice
Bureau of International Labor Affairs; Public
Hearings on International Child Labor [03/25/97]
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Volume 62, Number 57, Page 14164-14165 [DOCID:fr25mr97-127] DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Office of the Secretary Bureau of International Labor Affairs; Public Hearings on International Child Labor This document is a notice of public hearings to be held by the Department of Labor for the purpose of gathering information regarding the use of abusive or exploitative child labor in the production of goods imported into the United States. The hearing will be held on April 18, 1997, at the Department of Labor, room N-3437, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The hearing will be open to the public. The Department of Labor is now accepting requests from all interested parties to provide oral or written testimony at the hearing. Each presentation will be limited to ten minutes. The Department is not able to provide financial assistance to those wishing to travel to attend the hearing. Those unable to attend the hearing are invited to submit written testimony. Parties interested in testifying at the [[Page 14165]] international child labor hearing should call Thelma Hackley (202) 219- 7613 ext. 106 to be put on the roster. The Department of Labor is currently undertaking a fourth Congressionally-mandated review of international child labor practices (pursuant to the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 1997, P.L. 104-208). Information provided at the hearing will be considered by the Department of Labor in preparing its report to Congress. Testimony should be confined to the topic of the study. Specifically, the International Child Labor Office of the Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking written and oral testimony on the topics noted below: 1. Efforts initiated in the private sector, including efforts by importers, manufacturers, retailers, as well as non-governmental organizations, to eliminate exploitative child labor in the following industries: hand-knotted carpets, soccer balls, tea, and leather footwear. The International Child Labor Office is particularly interested in efforts, such as labels or codes of conduct, designed to inform customers that no child labor is used in the production of these products, and the operation, costs, and effectiveness of such programs. 2. Factual information regarding the use of child labor in the production of hand-knotted carpets, soccer balls, tea, and leather footwear in countries that may export such items to the United States. 3. Other information concerning programs designed to inform the public that no child labor was used to produce a consumer product. These efforts may be either non-industry specific or in industries other than hand-knotted carpets, soccer balls, tea, and leather footwear. DATES: The hearing is scheduled for Friday, April 18, 1997. The deadline for being placed on the roster for oral testimony is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 1997. Presenters will be required to submit five (5) written copies of their oral testimony to the International Child Labor Office by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 16, 1997. The record will be kept open for additional written testimony until 5:00 p.m., Monday, April 28, 1997. ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held at the Department of Labor, Room N- 3437, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. Written testimony should be addressed to the International Child Labor Office, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Room S-5303, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210, fax: (202) 219-4923. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thelma Hackley, International Child Labor Office, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Room S-5303, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone: (20) 219-7613 ext. 106; fax (202) 219-5071. Persons with disabilities who need special accommodations should contact Thelma Hackley by Monday, April 14, 1997. All written or oral comments submitted pursuant to the public hearing will be made part of the record of review referred to above and will be available for public inspection. Signed at Washington, DC, this 19th day of March, 1997. Andrew J. Samet, Acting Deputy Under Secretary. [FR Doc. 97-7525 Filed 3-24-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-28-M
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