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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

 
Bureau of International Labor Affairs; Request for Information

    This document is a request for information regarding a study being 
conducted by the Department of Labor on the economic benefits that 
would result from the elimination of abusive and exploitative child 
labor and increased enrollment of children in school. The Department is 
now accepting written information on this subject matter from all 
interested parties preparing written submissions.
    The Department of Labor is currently undertaking a Congressionally-
mandated study on the economic benefit to individual countries and to 
possible global benefits (pursuant to Senate Report 105-300, p.35, 
accompanying the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and 
Education and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 1999). The report 
for this annual Appropriations law reads, in part:

    The Committee recognizes the value of the reports completed by 
the Bureau of International Labor Affairs in recent years 
documenting the incidence of international child labor in various 
industries and countries, and some of the innovative approaches to 
reduce the use of abusive and exploitative child labor such as codes 
of conduct and labeling initiatives. While obstacles such as poverty 
and limited family income contribute to child labor, it is clear 
that child labor imposes large economic cost by continuing the cycle 
of poverty and denying educational opportunities to millions of 
children. Consequently, the Committee requests that the Bureau 
undertake a study on the economic benefits that could be realized 
from the elimination of abusive and exploitative child labor and the 
increased enrollment of these children in school. The study should 
look at the economic benefits to individual countries and to 
possible global benefits, in particular U.S. trade, that would 
result from the elimination of abusive and exploitative child labor. 
The analysis could include appropriate case or country studies, as 
appropriate.

    Information provided through public submission will be considered 
by the Department of Labor in preparing its report. Materials submitted 
should be confined to the specific topic of the study. In particular, 
the Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking 
written submissions on the topics noted below:
    1. Factors that determine whether a child works, particularly the 
relationship between the availability and quality of schooling and the 
incidence of child labor.
    2. Description of government policy decisions that affect the 
quality or availability of schooling, either to all children or to 
specific groups.
    3. Studies on the economic cost associated with child labor and 
possible return from transitioning children from work to school.
    This notice is a general solicitation of comments from the public.

DATES: Submitters of information are requested to provide two (2) 
copies of their written submission to the Child Labor Program by 5:00 
p.m., on May 26, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written testimony should be addressed to Kevin Willcutts at 
the International Child Labor Program, Bureau of International Labor 
Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-
5303, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Willcutts, International Child 
Labor Program, Bureau of International Labor Affairs at (202)208-4843; 
fax (202)219-4923. The Department of Labor's prior child labor reports 
can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov/ilab/
programs/iclp/ or can be obtained from the International Child Labor 
Program.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 20th day of April, 1999.
Andrew J. Samet,
Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-10377 Filed 4-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-P