NOTE: This report is available in both HTML and PDF formats. In order to view PDF documents you must have a PDF viewer ( (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Reader) available on your workstation.

A Report to Congress

Bureau of International Labor Affairs U.S. Department of Labor

July 15, 1994

The Department wishes to acknowledge the significant contributions made by all the members of the International Child Labor Study Office to the research, writing, and publication of this report. They are Sonia A. Rosen, Director; Don R. Kienzle, Associate Director; Alya Kayal, Research Analyst; Anne O'Toole, Research Analyst; Enrique Lopez-Mena, Compliance Specialist - Employment Standards Administration; and Angel Wood, Secretary.

The Department also wishes to acknowledge the leadership of the Bureau of International Labor Affairs in conducting the report. Under the direction of Joaquin F. Otero, Deputy Under Secretary for International Labor Affairs, the responsibility for overseeing the report was led by Andrew J. Samet, Associate Deputy Under Secretary for International Labor Affairs with assistance from Daniel Solomon, Special Assistant.

Finally, in recognition of his commitment to the eradication of child exploitation, acknowledgments are due to Jim Sweeney, U.S. Senate staff member, who died on August 21, 1993.

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary

II.Overview

III.Country Profiles:

Bangladesh Brazil
China
Colombia
Côte d'Ivoire
Egypt
Guatemala
India
Indonesia
Lesotho
Mexico
Morocco
Nepal
Pakistan
Philippines
Portugal
Tanzania
Thailand
Zimbabwe

IV.Appendix A: Background and Methodology

V.Appendix B: List of Commissioned Studies; List of Countries Visited by U.S Department of Labor Officials

VI.Appendix C: ILO Convention 138 Concerning the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment